#how did orion end up the heir to the throne?

[bimoonphases]

@wolfstarmicrofic July 19 - prompt 19: Fairytale [word count 941]

“Mother! Mother, please!”

Sirius banged both his fists on the door, but the only sound he heard were Walburga’s footsteps descending the tower stairs. He rested his forehead against the wood, feeling the tears prickling his eyes. It had all been a dream, a wonderful dream.

The castle, glimmering in the lights of the thousands of candles lit up for the nameday of the heir to the throne, Prince James. The feel of Uncle Alphard’s ceremonial suit Regulus had left in a corner of the kitchen so that Sirius could find it when the rest of the family had left that evening, fitting him like a glove. The whispers surrounding him when he had walked in the ballroom, his parents’ work so thorough no one there even remembered who he was. And the best part of it all. The man who had made a beeline for him as soon as the orchestra had started playing. His soft smile, his hand on Sirius’s back while they danced, his warm eyes. Sirius had forgotten everything in the man’s arms, letting himself just be happy for the first time in years. At least until the bells had tolled midnight and the guests had cheered the biggest birthday cake Sirius had ever seen being brought right in front of Prince James.

“I have to go stand by the prince for a moment,” Sirius’s companion had said. “Wait for me?”

“I have to go,” Sirius had managed to say.

Walburga wouldn’t linger after toasting the prince’s health, and he had to be back at the house before them, he knew too well what would happen to him should his parents come back and not find him as usual in the kitchen, asleep by the fireplace. The other man’s expression had crumbled so fast Sirius had only been able to turn around and run out of the ballroom.

“Wait!” he had heard as he was descending the staircase as fast as he could. “I don’t even know your name! How will I find you?”

Sirius hadn’t stopped. He knew he couldn’t let himself be found again, no matter how his heart was screaming the exact opposite. The man was obviously part of the prince’s inner circle with his embroidered clothes and impeccable manners, and Sirius had been even less than a servant to his own family for years. He had nothing to offer him. And yet when a royal herald had come to the house announcing Prince James would pay Lord and Lady Black a visit in the afternoon, Sirius had dared to hope. He had begged his mother to let him be present, to let him watch from afar, in the hopes the man he had dreamt about for two weeks now would be there and he could look at him once more. But all the begging had ended up with him being locked up in the small room at the top of the tower so he couldn’t stumble on the royal visit and embarrass his parents by reminding someone they had managed to make their firstborn disappear from public record.

“It was a beautiful dream,” Sirius whispered. “Time to wake up now.”

A squeak made him turn his head towards the rat nestled on the windowsill.

“What would you have me do, Wormtail?” Sirius wiped his tears away. “I can’t break the door down.”

The rat squeaked again and Sirius walked up to the window, sitting on the windowsill and looking down at where his parents and his brother were standing, watching the royal guards on horseback enter the courtyard.

“Yes, I suppose I will able to see him if he’s coming here with the prince,” he sighed.

Soon enough, a white horse stopped in front of the house and Prince James dismounted while Sirius’s parents and Regulus immediately dropped into the most perfect curtsies. Sirius watched the prince walk up to his father, and his heart skipped a beat as he saw the man from the ball climb down from his chestnut horse and stop right behind the prince.

From up there he couldn’t hear a thing, but soon enough he saw Orion clasp his hands behind his back, which he only ever did when something was not going his way, while Walburga planted one hand on Regulus’s shoulder, a clear sign she needed to assert her control on someone because she was losing her footing in another field. Then, Prince James looked at Regulus, and from where Sirius was he saw his brother slightly move his head up, the prince following the movement and looking up at the tower. A second later, the prince was waving a finger right in Orion’s face while the other man had broken into a run and had gotten inside the house. Sirius frowned, wondering what was really happening down there, when a crash made him whirl around. The door had been broken down, and the man from the ball was standing on the threshold, panting.

“It’s true then,” he whispered, eyes fixed on Sirius. “Imprisoned and treated like a servant when you should be heir of this family.”

Sirius blinked.

“How did you find me?” he whispered.

“You have the good luck of looking way too much like your younger brother,” the man walked up to Sirius, extending his hand. “My name is Remus. Will you allow me to escort you to a safe place?”

Sirius took his hand, letting himself be drawn up from the windowsill and almost against Remus’s chest.

“As long as the safe place is with you,” he whispered.

“Always,” Remus smiled. “Let’s go now before the prince starts flirting with your brother.”

[wh3nturtlesfly]

Set Him Free (Chapter 3)

First | Previous | Next

Relationships: Slow Burn prinxiety and logicality

Word Count: 2266

Summary: Roman returns to the kingdom, and retells his days story, while receiving some welcome (and unwelcome) advice…

Roman tapped his fingers atop the glass windowpane, gazing over the kingdom. A soft glow from the moon reflected over various shops and cottages, making the whole area appear microscopic compared to the castle he was currently sitting in.

Still, each of the commoners within the village below possessed much more freedom than Roman could ever wish to have. Being heir to the throne came with its wide array of rules and regulations, forming invisible chains that in the end left him strangled by his own standing.

He looked up, the vision of hundreds of stars shining within his eyes. Roman could watch the stars forever. They served as a small escape from the society’s restraints, temporarily setting him free.

As much as he enjoyed getting to be the hero, it was nice to be able to occasionally forget about the kingdom's expectations.

Roman allowed himself to be enveloped in the illuminations, each star pulling him just a bit farther from reality. He held a finger to the sky, tracing through intricate constellations and brushing his fingertips across vast galaxies.

One by one, he recalled the stories for each. Auriga, the swift charioteer. Draco, the fierce dragon guardian. Orion, the valiant hunter.

True heroes and villains, all captured permanently within the heavens. Legacies, all contained within stories painted in the sky. It fascinated Roman how lasting the arrangements were, spreading their tales generation to generation, and becoming immortal within thousands of illuminations.

He let the memories of failed missions and strict orders slip from his mind, leaving only the stars.

“Ah, there you are, your highness,” A clear voice cut through the silence.

“It's great to see you as well Logan.” He offered a smile, “butI told you that you needn’t use such formalities when addressing me. Roman will do just fine.”

“Alright Ro-, nope, I can’t do it. As both you and the queen’s advisor, remaining professional is of top priority. If you are searching for nonchalance, you should’ve remained on the streets.”

“Oh come on Lo,” a cheerful figure emerged from behind Logan, a bright smile painted upon his face, “You don’t always have to be serious, we’re still teenagers after all!”

“Exactly, eighteen is the perfect age to grow and step into the real world.”

Roman sighed, “I don’t think you’re going to sway him with this Patton. Send out any new letters today?”

Patton Aureole was the royal messenger, in charge of sending and receiving important information along with establishing relations with other kingdoms. His bright and kind manner made him the perfect face for befriending others, contributing to Elden’s many allies.

“Nothing was in need of sending today, but I did receive a letter addressed to all of us from Lunaris!”

Patton retrieved a cream envelope displaying a crimson wax seal. Both Roman and Logan perked up at this, eying the letter with anticipation.

“Well,” Roman began fidgeting excitedly, “Are you going to open it or what?”

“Magic word?”

“Please!”

“Alright,” Patton smiled, carefully opening the envelope and removing the paper inside. Roman and Logan leaned in, trying to catch a glimpse of the cursive covered parchment as Patton read:

Dear Roman, Patton, and Logan,

Greetings from the kingdom of Lunaris! I hope you all have been faring well. It’s been a long time since I last wrote to you all, so I figured I might as well write again! Things here have been going great since we last got together. Despite the constant lessons, Joan, Talyn, and I have found ways to occupy ourselves, leading to many. . . adventures. Talyn has managed to teach me some swordplay techniques so that I may be able to beat even you someday Roman! All while Joan has been helping me stay on task with my studies. They sure know how to manage time well, though I’m not sure that I can go through another poetry class without boring myself to death! As for you three, Patton, I left some new wax colors in the envelope along with a new stamp tip for you! I figured that light blue would be a fun color for you to try out when sending letters! For Logan, I enclosed a page I found in one of the palace books, indicating flora and fauna specific to this area, and Roman, though I don’t have anything physical for you, I wish you luck in catching that thief of yours!

All the best,

Thomas Sanders, Prince of Lunaris

Patton folded the letter up, removing the wax and parchment, then gently placing it back into the envelope. With a smile, he handed the book page to Logan who eagerly bagan reading.

Roman chuckled, a bold expression forming among his features. “Ha!” He exclaimed, “I don’t need luck! I tell you all, I was this close to capturing him today!”

“Sure,” Logan smirked, “And was that before or after you were pushed off a candle shop?”

“How did you find out about that?”

“Evelyn informed me after she returned from the market.”

“Darn.”

“Is no one going to acknowledge the fact that you were pushed off of a building?!” Patton knit his brows in concern, “Are you alright? Did you get hurt at all? Here, show me your arms, I need to check you for the plague!”

“I’m fine Patton,” Roman chuckled, “I caught myself before I hit the ground, and quite gracefully too if I may add.”

“I assume you didn’t follow my advice from your last exploit then.”

“‘Stop engaging in valiant banter’, is not advice Logan! I promise you both, I will arrest him one of these days, it's not my fault he decided to be dramatic today!”

Logan raised a brow, “Dramatic, how so?”

“Well, I did catch him as he was escaping from the top of the candle shop, though he unclasped that cloak of his and ran off before I could process what was happening.”

“It’s alright Ro,” Patton placed a reassuring hand on the prince’s shoulder, “I do remember a certain someone saying they loved a challenge.”

Roman flopped onto a nearby chair, “I suppose you’re right,” he mumbled, “though I just can’t figure out what I keep doing wrong!”

“Try looking at it from a different angle,” Logan proposed, “Find some way in which he must adhere to the scene you have created. Know your surroundings, and stay attentive, rather than simply jumping into action the moment a disruption is reported.”

“You know, that may just work…wait- I got it! You’re a genius Logan!”

“Naturally,” Logan smirked, pushing up his glasses.

“What’s your big idea kiddo?”

“You’ll just have to wait and see when I come back with the notorious Virgil Rayne in custody tomorrow! This plan is foolproof, I can sense it!”

“Foolproof, such as your plan last week, in which you disguised as a street vendor to gain and I quote, ‘inside intel’, ” Logan looked at him doubtfully.

“I played the part wonderfully,” Roman huffed, “you should’ve seen how many people became upset at me when I explained I wasn’t actually selling anything.”

“I’m sure you did a wonderful job!” Patton quickly reassured him. Logan resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

“Well, it's good to know someone believes in my expertise.”

“Oh, I have no doubt about your skills, though your ability to push aside the theatrics for logic is questionable. However, I have no doubt that you will be able to complete all tasks you wish to accomplish, as I know how dedicated you can be.”

“Y’know, I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me Logan.”

“Don’t get used to it,” Logan deadpanned, receiving a laugh from the prince in return.

A soft yawn caught their attention, and they turned to notice a very tired Patton, struggling to remain awake. Logan and Roman approached the drowsy messenger, smiles crossing both of their faces.

Roman gently nudged Patton’s shoulder, causing him to jump slightly, “You’re looking a little sleepy padre, you don’t have to stay here while we discuss strategy if you don’t want to.”

“No- I’m alright, I can stay, ‘m not even tired,” he mumbled, eyes fluttering closed before he could even finish his sentence.

The two practically melted at the scene before them, admiring the dedication of their caring friend. Roman retrieved a quilt from a nearby shelf, wrapping the messenger in a sea of soft peach fabric.

They then moved to a more distant corner of the room, careful not to disturb their friend with their discussions. Roman went through the day's events, describing each of his activities while Logan offered advice and the occasional critique.

It had quickly grown later as Roman finished up the last of his exploits for the day, and he eagerly listened to the last of Logan’s feedback.

“In all honesty, I believe you have more than enough expertise to fulfill what you have set out to do, now it all comes down to the mental portion. We must now work to improve your tactical intelligence.”

“I would be glad to,” Roman grinned, “though can I ask you a favor?”

“You’re the literal prince of this kingdom, I don’t think I’m allowed to refuse anything you ask unless refuted by your mother.”

“You know what I mean Logan. I just ask that you don’t tell my mother about the whole falling off the building thing.” He sighed, “She already hates that I’m head of the guard, so there’s no telling she would freak if she knew half the things I did out on patrol.”

“You have my word, I will not inform her.”

“Not inform me of what exactly, Logan?” A cold hand rested on the advisor’s shoulder, causing Roman and Logan to snap their heads around.

“Queen Elena- apologies, I didn’t see you before.” Logan nearly fell from his chair, scrambling to stand at attention.

“That would be your highness to you Mr. Sage.”

“Noted, sorry to be informal, your majesty,” Logan gulped, beginning to fidget with his fingers, “If you will excuse me, I’ll be directing Patton to his room so that you may talk to your son as I assume you desire to do.”

“That you will,” the queen responded, turning to the prince as Logan quickly shuffled out of the room, Patton carried in his arms.

Roman frowned as the door clicked shut, “You didn’t have to scold him like that.”

Elena raised a brow, “Is that so?”

Her words pierced like daggers, and Roman resisted the urge to shrink back. This was only his mother after all. She would never do anything to hurt him.

He squared his shoulders, meeting Elena’s eyes. No reason to be afraid.

“It’s just that Logan did nothing wrong. We were merely discussing strategy.”

“Well if there’s nothing wrong, why are we still discussing it?”

“Right,” Roman looked to the ground, “Apologies mother, we can continue.”

“Perfect,” She looked to Roman, the cold regalness slipping from her face as if it had never been there in the first place, “So dear, I trust your day was magnificent?”

“That and much more,” Roman mumbled, not fully meeting the eyes of the queen.

“And the streets?”

“Safe and protected, nothing out of the ordinary.”

“Oh good!” the queen sighed with relief, “You know how worried I get when you go out patrolling, especially with what happened to your father. I couldn’t bear to lose you.”

“I thought you said we weren’t supposed to talk about dad.”

“Indeed I did, which is exactly why we’re talking about something else,” The last words seemed to drip with an invisible venom as Elena pierced her son with a cold stare, though a second passed and she had transformed back to her noble self.

“Have you managed to come any closer in arresting that thief?”

“Almost, I believe I may know just what to do next time!” Roman struck a pose, happily reminiscing about the kingdom’s streets, lined with marvelous townsfolk and the perfect hint of adventure.

“Perfect, then I expect you to be successful soon. You must be prepared, you are coming closer to holding the crown more with every day.”

“I will. Thank you mother.”

“You are most welcome dear,” the queen stood up, heading to the door, “It’s getting late, and beauty sleep is an important thing, so I suggest you settle down for the night. Rest well Roman.”

“I will mother,” Roman muttered, meandering up a small spiral staircase and into his room. The white and gold door closed softly behind him, allowing the tension to slip from his shoulders.

He gracelessly collapsed onto his bed, taking in the soft comfort of the crimson sheets. Rolling onto his back, Roman turned his head gently to glance out yet another window. The stars came back into view, providing a reassuring comfort.

His mother hadn’t been the same ever since the king had died. Roman tried to convince himself that she was just trying to keep him safe, though with each conversation he felt more and more as if he was being controlled. There was no telling what the queen would think if she knew how exciting Roman’s days actually were.

He began to feel his body grow heavy, the exhilaration of the day finally catching up to him.

Closing his eyes, he imagined the stars growing into even more vast galaxies, stealing him away from the life of expectations and pressure.

Images of a world so beautiful, it seemed almost too good to be real. Each picture shone within his head as he finally slipped into his dreams, surrounded by the impossible illuminations.

[carewyncromwell]

[HPHM] Carewyn Cromwell and Orion Amari Cinderella AU Moodboard

x~x~x~x

Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms at war -- the land of Royaume with rolling valleys and mountain ranges, and the land of Florence by the southeastern sea. Their conflict had started fifty years ago, rooted in a territory dispute that blew up in an assassination and full-scale war. Since then, the royal family of Royaume, including the young Prince Henri, was kept under very tight house-arrest. It also resulted in many families gaining status and power in the two nation’s governments through investing in war.

One of those such families in the nation of Royaume were the Cromwells, led by the cold and ruthless Lord Charles Cromwell. The Cromwells put in a lot of their own money investing in the War, and those investments only came back to them tenfold, making them incredibly wealthy and very well-regarded among Royaume’s royal court. The King of Royaume needed all of the financial assistance he could get -- especially since he’d spent a lot of money to hire a mercenary from an outside country to assassinate the Crown Prince of Florence in an attempt to end the War, only for the War to go on unabated when the King of Florence coughed up a replacement heir. And as luxurious as the Royaumanian palace and many of its country estates looked, a lot of the lower classes weren’t getting their fair share, around paying for the soldiers at war. There were rumors that Florence was better-off, since they simply used black magic to make money and food appear out of fat air, but that was widely considered to be unfounded rumors. Royaumanians were very distrustful of magic and those who practiced it, and Florence’s harboring of witches and wizards didn’t do much to endear the common man to their enemy country.

This was why, one day at the local market in Royaume’s capital, there was a lot of fuss made when one of the street vendors -- an old miser named Argus Filch --  suspected a strange man of buying ingredients for a potion.

“I’m not stupid, boy,” said Mr. Filch, looking over the stranger with suspicion. “You think those things you’ve been picking up like a crow look like anything other than some kind of black magic recipe?”

The stranger in question -- a young, tanned, black-eyed man with a beard and slightly-too-long dark hair -- responded with remarkable calm.

“I assure you, sir, black magic is certainly not my intention,” he said quietly.

“Oh yeah?” challenged Mr. Filch. “What’s all this for, then?”

“A friend,” the young man answered.

“A friend, eh? Some nasty old witch in the forest, I’m sure -- thinking of mixing up some poison potion -- ”

“Is there a problem here?”

Both men looked up, very startled.

A young lady astride a white horse had just come to a stop beside them. She was dressed in a light yellow gown with green sleeves and her ginger hair was done up in netting decked with pearls. It was a peculiar sight, to see so well-dressed a woman riding her own horse through the market rather than riding in a carriage, even if she did ride side-saddle.

The ginger-haired lady glanced at the dark-haired stranger out the side of her almond-shaped blue eye. Although her face was as stoic as a marble statue’s, there was something about her gaze that caught his attention. It was discerning, and yet...not cold. Not condescending.

The lady then turned to Mr. Filch.

“Good sir,” she said, “why do you harangue my escort?”

The dark-haired stranger blinked, but otherwise kept the surprise from his face. Mr. Filch himself blinked several times in rapid succession.

“Y-your escort?” he sputtered. “Then...you’re who he was shopping for?”

“That I am,” said the lady very coolly. “Is there a problem with my purchases?”

“W-well, yes, in fact!” Mr. Filch stammered, his suspicion returning even though he was clearly intimidated. “What could a fine lady such as yourself want with this sort of...pagan nonsense?”

The lady raised her eyebrows dryly. “‘Pagan nonsense?’”

“Yes!” said Mr. Filch, his voice becoming a bit louder in his defensiveness. “Rosemary, henbane -- ”

“I require rosemary for the kitchen staff, to season our meals,” said the lady at once. “And henbane makes for pleasant incense -- we use it to stifle the smell of cigar smoke, after large parties.”

Filch looked a bit abashed.

“...And what about the absinthe? That stuff’s pretty strong...and the catswort...”

“My uncle brews drinks with absinthe, as a palette cleanser after large meals....and surely you yourself know of how much house cats enjoy catswort? I believe I see cat fur on your coat.”

“Well, yes, but...but what about the Mandrakes?” challenged Filch. “That is pretty occult, if I’ve ever -- ”

“The Mandragora plant has some of the prettiest flowers I’ve ever seen,” the lady said, and her blue eyes grew a little narrower. “Now have I satisfactorily nullified your concerns? I’m afraid I have an urgent appointment at the palace, and I know my grandfather Lord Cromwell would be very displeased if I was late for it because someone suspected his family of aligning themselves with witchcraft.”

Mr. Filch suddenly went very, very white. “L-Lord Cromwell!? Y-you’re related to -- ?!”

He abruptly prostrated himself before her. “My lady!”

The display actually seemed to make the young Lady Cromwell look incredibly uncomfortable -- as if she hadn’t intended for the threat to make the vendor react with quite so much anxiety.

“Rise, please,” she said, and her voice seemed oddly remorseful. “That’s not necessary. Just be on your way and leave this man be, please.”

“Yes, my lady!” said Mr. Filch very quickly, looking no less anxious. “O-of course, my lady...”

With that, he slunk away, back down the street toward his stall.

Lady Cromwell looked down at the dark-haired stranger again. His sparkling black eyes had not left her face for almost the entire exchange and were very difficult to read.

“Have you bought everything you need?” she asked under her breath.

The stranger inclined his head in a single nod. “Yes.”

Lady Cromwell nodded in return, a very small smile touching the corners of her red lips. “Good. Walk beside my horse for a block or so. I’ll escort you out of the market, so you can head home.”

She flicked the reins and started her horse off at a leisurely trot. The dark-haired man hesitated briefly, before adjusting the basket under his arm so that the handle hung on his shoulder and following her.

“That was some very clever thinking on your part,” he said quietly.

Lady Cromwell raised her eyebrows.

“You seem surprised,” she said dryly. “Have you never encountered a clever woman before?”

“On the contrary,” the man replied, “I’m fortunate to count several as my friends. But I must confess, I did not expect such kindness from someone in your position.”

“And pray, what ‘position’ is that?”

The man inclined his head respectfully. “A lady of the Cromwell estate, of course. After all, as you yourself said...your grandfather most assuredly would be offended if someone associated him and his family with witchcraft.”

Lady Cromwell shot a quick glance at him out the side of her eye. Then she faced forward again.

“...I suppose I...have never been that much like the rest of my family,” she said softly. “Excluding my brother.”

“The young Lord Tristan Cromwell?” asked the man.

“No -- Jacob Cromwell,” she replied. “He’s at the war front.”

The man’s dark eyes flickered with a strange, sad glint.

“I see...”

The lady brought her horse to a stop and faced the man more fully.

“Well then, this is where I leave you. I’m sorry if it requires more of a walk for you to return home, but I must be off to the castle -- I’m already running behind.”

“It’s no problem at all,” said the dark-haired stranger. “It truly is not so far of a walk for me.”

Lady Cromwell nodded politely. “Very well. Farewell, then, Mr...?”

“With respect, my lady,” said the man with a slight wry smile, “perhaps it’s best that we not share our identities.”

The red-haired lady cocked her eyebrows sardonically. “Seems rather rude of you, considering you already know mine.”

“Ah, but I don’t, truly,” said the stranger, and his black eyes sparked with something almost mischievous. “I know your family name, yes, but that’s not who you are, is it? And truthfully even who you are now isn’t really that important. I’d say who you wish to be is far more telling than who you are at the present moment.”

Lady Cromwell raised an eyebrow, intrigued a bit despite herself. “Really? And who do you wish to be, sir?”

His black eyes twinkled a bit more, making them resemble two miniature night skies with hundreds of tiny pinprick stars.

“...A free man.”

Lady Cromwell’s eyes actually softened a bit, almost sympathetically.

“...Well, I hope you achieve that dream, Mr. Freeman,” she said in an unusually kind voice.

She flicked the reins of her horse.

“Farewell!” she called behind her.

Despite himself, the dark-haired stranger felt his face breaking into a broad smile as he watched her gallop away.

“Farewell,” he murmured, “Lady Cromwell.”

Not long after she was out of sight, a familiar black carriage appeared around a corner, and the door cracked open so that one could enter it. With an airy sigh, the dark-haired man climbed into the carriage and shut the door behind him, before the carriage rode off.

Not long after, the woman who’d been called “Lady Cromwell” arrived at the Royaumanian palace. She received a lot of attention from the castle staff for her mother’s old dress and formal hair and make-up -- and when she approached the thrones of the King and Queen, she startled everyone with her greeting.

“Your Majesties,” she said lowly, her blue eyes downcast to the floor to obscure the faint nerves she felt, “my name is Carewyn. Lord Cromwell sent me, so that I may serve his Highness, the Prince.”

The King looked very startled. “Lord Cromwell? Then...”

His face suddenly burst into an incredulous smile.

“...Why then, you’re the new maidservant! Lord Cromwell’s serving girl! My, but you have cleaned up -- I never would have guessed!”

“Clearly Lord Cromwell treats his servants well, if even they look the part of a courtier,” said the Queen, and she couldn’t help but giggle behind her hand.

Carewyn successfully resisted the urge to scoff. Charles most certainly had not told her to come dressed in her mother’s old dress or doll herself up quite this much -- he wanted Carewyn to be eyes and ears for their family, not to draw attention away from her cousins vying for the Prince’s hand. But Carewyn had her own reasons for wanting to make a good first impression.

“Come nearer to me, child,” said the Queen.

Carewyn obeyed politely. She still had some trouble meeting the King and Queen’s eyes, but she kept her composure as best she could.

“Turn for me.”

Faintly confused, Carewyn nonetheless did so. The Queen looked very pleased.

“Oh, she’s just like a little china doll!” she said through a simpering smile. “Prince Henri is going to have such fun with her, wouldn’t you say, dear?”

“Yes, yes, indeed,” said the King with a chortle. “I don’t know if you’re aware, Carewyn, but my son has quite a knack for -- ”

“Father!”

Carewyn couldn’t stop herself from turning around in surprise as the man who had to be Prince Henri strode up the hall.

He certainly was dressed the part, that was for certain. He wore a doublet made of gold-trimmed purple velvet complete with a brocaded cape and a matching hat and breeches with white stockings and gold-buckled black shoes.

“Henri, how good of you to join us,” said the Queen brightly. “Carewyn -- this is Henri Lancelot-Yves Andre -- Crown Prince of Royaume.”

Carewyn curtsied politely. “It’s an honor, your Highness.”

The dark-skinned prince Henri gave a bright white grin. “Ah, then you’re the new maidservant! I think I can see why you were sent over -- your fashion is on point, despite your dress being of an older style...”

He offered a hand politely to her.

“Come -- we must get you fitted appropriately!”

With faint hesitance, Carewyn rested her hand on top of the prince’s and followed him out.

“Fitted, Your Highness?” she asked. “I thought I merely would receive a uniform, once I arrived.”

“Oh, you will,” said the Prince brightly, “but no member of the castle staff is going to wear a uniform that doesn’t fit her properly -- I’ll need to tailor it. And please...call me Andre.”

Meanwhile, the dark-haired stranger called “Freeman” was getting an earful from the man in the carriage.

“Orion, you can’t keep running off every time you’re able to sidestep your attendants,” said the blond-haired man in the carriage. His arms were crossed, and although his expression was grave, it wasn’t particularly strict or reproachful. “There’s a lot of military strategy to discuss.”

“I learn a lot more about our enemy here on the streets than I ever could in a tower, McNully,” said Orion serenely. Once he’d finished organizing his basket of herbs, he lay it down on the seat across from him. “Don’t let me forget to deliver that to Miss Haywood, for the wounded.”

“You could stand to learn about your enemy in both places,” said McNully, “and you could also stand to think a bit more critically before disguising yourself and wandering across the border. Do you know what the Royaumanians would do, if they caught you?”

Orion considered this. “Hmm...perhaps that would make a good strategy. Cleopatra herself apparently smuggled herself inside a rug, so as to parley with Julius Caesar -- ”

“Yes, but Cleopatra’s older half-brother hadn’t been killed on Caesar’s orders beforehand,” McNully cut him off a bit more forcefully.

He sighed heavily.

“Orion...I understand you never asked for any of this. I mean, of all the people I could’ve seen becoming heir to the throne of Florence, I’d have said you only had a 3% chance of being picked.”

“Much obliged,” said Orion with a rather placid smile.

His face then grew a bit more serious.

“Even so,” he said quietly, “it’s my responsibility. And so is ending this war, preferably in such a way that balance is restored.”

“Kind of hard to do, when Royaume seem more interested in killing off royal family members than negotiating,” said McNully. “At this rate, I’d say the odds are slim they’ll accept peace over all-out surrender -- 10%, tops.

Orion shook his head. “Its leaders, maybe, but not its people. There is goodness among them. Patience, tenacity, loyalty, and fire. A desire for peace and stability, in place of war and loss.”

“And an irrational hatred of us, bred out of a fear of everyone and anyone even slightly associated with magic,” McNully pointed out.

“Not all of them feel that way.”

“A good 98% do.”

Orion glanced out the window at the large wall that marked the border of Royaume and Florence. Positioned in the distance were a battalion of Royaumanian soldiers shooting their guns and yelling -- no doubt they were being distracted just long enough for their carriage to slip through unnoticed.

“However slim the number,” said Orion quietly, “there are those here who don’t fear the unknown and mysterious -- whose kindness gives them courage...”

The face of the ginger-haired lady he’d met in the market rippled over the Florentine Prince’s mind again, and his lips curled up in a small smile.

“That’s something we can count as a blessing and use to our advantage.” 

[engie-ivy]

(I know this prompt has come and gone @wolfstarmicrofic, but you know I can't resist Prince Sirius😅)

8th: Royal

Remus wants to get as far away as possible from the man who broke his heart. Sirius will stop at nothing to track down the man who broke his heart.

(Don't worry, happy ending!)

The innkeeper looks vaguely surprised as she takes in the combination of his high quality clothes and dishevelled appearance as he enters the old-fashioned, but well-kept inn. So has the innkeepers in the previous three inns he visited, who had looked even more surprised when he had simply looked around the common room and left again.

He has a good feeling about this one, though.

The innkeeper recognizes him as someone who might have some coin on him, so she lets him pass without any questions. As he enters the common room, he immediately spots what he has been looking for. Or rather, who he has been looking for.

Like a wolf having spotted his prey, he walks across the common room to the man sitting at a table in the back, drinking a mug of ale. He stops when he’s standing right in front of the man’s table.

“You’re a hard man to track down.”

The man puts down his mug and looks up, his eyes the exact shade of amber as the ale. Eyes that he’s used to seeing filled with warmth, but that are now cold and void of any emotion. “Ever considered I did not want to be found?”

He slides the other chair back and sits down.

The man sighs when he realises he isn’t going to escape this confrontation. “What do you want, Black?”

“An explanation,” Sirius replies. “You owe me that much.”

For the first time Sirius sees emotion in Remus’ eyes, as they flare with anger. “I don’t owe you a damn thing!”

Sirius regards him calmly. “So, was that what it was all about then? When the money and the titles were gone, you decided that wasn’t what you signed up for?”

“What I ‘did not sign up for’,” Remus hisses. “Was being your dirty little secret!”

Sirius observes him for a moment as something starts to dawn on him. He takes a piece of parchment out of his pocket and throws it on the table. “I reckon that you’ve seen the proclamation?” He asks calmly.

“How could I have missed it? It was all over town.” Remus purposely doesn’t look at the parchment, where the heading of the proclamation is clearly visible:

Royal Wedding Forthcoming! Crown Prince of the House of Black announces betrothal to Lady Heloise of the House of Lestrange

“And did you read the proclamation?” Sirius asks.

“The title was already entertaining enough,” Remus sneers. “Forgive me for not wanting to learn all details about your future marital bliss.”

Sirius slides the parchment over to Remus. “Read it.” It’s not a question, it’s a command, as only someone who was born and raised a ruler can command.

Remus glares at him, but then his anger makes place for resignation as he takes the parchment, his eyes not leaving Sirius’. “So, I must drink your poisoned chalice to the last drop,” he murmurs, before he starts to read.

“It is with great joy that His Majesty the King Orion, and Her Majesty the Queen Walburga, of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black announce that their son and heir and successor to the throne has selected a suitable bride. A long-awaited unification of the noble bloodlines of the House of Black and the House of Lestrange shall occur as Lady Heloise Lestrange shall be wed to Your Royal Highness Crown Prince Regulus Arcturus Black-”

Remus’ eyes snap up. “Wait, Regulus?”

“Regulus,” Sirius replies calmly, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest.

“But... But... You’re the heir and successor of the House of Black! You’re the crown prince!”

“I was the crown prince,” Sirius corrects. “Those titles were stripped away from me when I told my parents I had fallen in love with a man not of noble descent, and I intended to marry him.”

Remus opens and closes his mouth, unable to find words.

“Can you imagine how foolish I felt,” Sirius continues. “Upon finding out that the man I had just given up my entire life for had left town without a word.”

“I didn’t know!” Remus exclaims. “Honest to god, I didn’t. I saw the proclamation and I assumed...” He shakes his head. “I thought you had been deceiving me.”

“I must say, I had not anticipated this turn of events,” Sirius admits. “I assumed you had heard, realised I no longer had my fortune or my titles, and was not interested in being with me without those, so decided the easiest thing to do was just to get away.”

Remus looks down at the table. “Why did you even bother to track me down?”

“Honestly?” Sirius asks. “I did not want you to get off so easy. I wanted to force you to look me in the eyes and admit it. If you were going to break my heart, you would have to do it to my face.”

“I wish you hadn’t,” Remus whispers. As Sirius arches an eyebrow, he continues. “It was easier when I could focus on how much I hated you, so I wouldn’t have to feel how much I missed you. Yes, I felt like an idiot for getting my hopes up with someone so clearly out of my league, but now I have to come to terms with being an idiot for singlehandedly ruining the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me.”

“You underestimate me.”

“I know, I should never have assumed-”

“No,” Sirius interrupts. “I mean you’re underestimating me now. Remus, I literally renounced an entire kingdom for you! Do you really think I’m going to give up that easily?”

“You... You’ll give me another chance?” Remus stares at Sirius with wide eyes, and a glimmer of hope in those eyes.

Sirius leans forward in his chair and takes Remus’ hand. “I’ve got no money, no status, no titles, no plan. Good lord, I’ve never even learned a proper profession besides being a prince! I’ve got nothing to offer but myself, if you’ll have me?”

“Always,” Remus replies instantly, squeezing Sirius’ hand as tears well up in his eyes. “Forever. You’re enough, you’ll always be enough.”

[elindae-writes]

What’s Unburied Megatron’s views on the other Decepticons and the Autobots? (Including Starscream in the Autobots category)

Airachnid

Entertainment who is also vaguely useful. Maybe she’ll be of use, maybe not. Until Megatron figures that out she’s somewhat worth having around in the meantime. Her manipulative qualities help kind of fill in the gap Starscream left behind a bit. She also really unnerves everybody on the ship which is a bonus. Megatron isn’t the kind of commander who wants there to be morale boosters, he’s the kind of commander who wants there to be morale depressors.

Knock Out

It’s important to keep an optic on this one. He seems more concerned about his polish and his conjunx than the grand Decepticon cause. He is very likely to defect and therefore must be reigned in somehow. Perhaps he needs to have the superiority of the Decepticons proven to him. Were it not for his usefulness Megatron would be a lot rougher with him. Since he’s the only medic though he is unfortunately necessary to the cause. If a replacement for him were to ever be found his worth would plummet drastically.

Breakdown

The strong are meant to oppress the weak and the weak must stand beside their oppressors as a way of acknowledging their place in the hierarchy. Breakdown, the sickening bot who Megatron thought had left behind the hypocritical ways of the Autobots but who seems to be getting drawn back into their ways again. He’s like Orion in that he is compassionate and does not want power--which is why he’s the perfect person to have power burdened onto him. He’ll inevitably look to find somebody who can help him bear this burden and the only one who suitably can help him is the one who burdened him in the first place.

Soundwave

Him. The former face of the Decepticon cause who is now so shameful that even the mere sight of his face is offensive. The fallen son who rose so close to helping Megatron craft a new world order and who will now only be just barely afforded the privilege of being able to witness it. But maybe he can be reigned in. He has the right qualities befitting a second-in-command--deference, self-awareness of his own inferiority, and an acknowledgment of himself as just another piece in the Decepticon war machine. He can be rescued, though. Starscream himself had many brief lapses of panic and “enlightenment” in which he tried to flee the cause only to return to it in the end. Unfortunately Starscream has been permanently blinded by Prime and is now unable to ever see the guiding light of the Nemesis ever again. Soundwave can be saved, though. He’s not blind yet.

Optimus

The usurper, liar, thief, and grand manipulator. The “brother” who set himself up as Megatronus’s prop just to make him reliant on him all so that he could rip the prop away from Megatronus all at once. Were the feelings of brotherhood ever real? Maybe at first. He let Megatron walk up before the Senate and was in reality in league with them the whole time. He manipulated poor Megatronus into rising up and failing. Orion did all this so that he could then be presented as Plan B, the better option, the superior option. Perhaps he had the Matrix stored in his chestplates all along. There’s no way the tale about him receiving it from Primus could be true. Perhaps Orion Pax never existed and Optimus Prime always did. That thought hurts for some reason.

Arcee

Who?

Bulkhead

He’s large, he’s loud, he’ll die soon, not too much to say here. His relationship with Starscream is... intriguing. He seems to have developed an affection for the Seeker and is naïve to the fact that he’s being pulled in and manipulated. Or perhaps it’s the other way around? Maybe Bulkhead is the manipulator and Starscream the manipulated. More testing required.

Bumblebee

Perhaps mutilating his vocalizer was not the best course of action. It’s only seemed to make Optimus Prime 3.0 more angry. He used to just be Optimus’s black and yellow duplicate, nothing more, but Megatron sees clearly now: Starscream is now meant to be the true new Prime. Bumblebee was clearly cast off and discarded by Optimus because Prime saw that Starscream would be easier to sculpt and mold than Bumblebee. If you’re going to remake somebody into the perfect weapon in order to fight your enemy you’re going to choose to sculpt the person who has been most hurt by that enemy. This has Starscream as the obvious choice due to his having suffered more at Megatron’s servo than Bumblebee’s. Poor Bumblebee still thinks he’s the heir to Optimus’s throne of lies when in reality all he’ll ever be is just another servant to it at best.

Ratchet

The delusional mech who realized the true grandness of Megatron’s designs but who instead of rightfully embracing them instead chose to reject them due to being unable to handle them. Ratchet is... confusing. He recognized Megatronus’s true plans for Cybertron early on, yet confusedly denounced them. Ratchet always claimed to want order and Megatronus was going to bring exactly that, so why Ratchet rejected Megatronus is perplexing. He chose to support the corrupt Senate and Orion, their archivist servant. He saw Orion as his nephew and was unable to see him for the manipulative backstabber he truly was and still is. Ratchet followed his adoptee down into darkness. Ratchet tried to attack Megatron in a mine, a mine, the exact same kind of dusty and dirty one Megatron was born in. He tried to beat Megatron up and make him suffer in the exact same kind of dirty place Ratchet had insisted nobody deserved to be beaten in and suffer in.

Starscream

The privileged and spoiled bot who had the grand honor and privilege of being the right-hand of the future warlord, but who was unable to accept his rightful and inferior place in the universe. He couldn’t rise up the Decepticon ladder so he chose to climb up the Autobot one instead (which Megatron will gladly pull out from underneath him). If he wants to be Optimus’s new brother, fine, let him. If he wants to wither away and be manipulated as Megatronus was, fine, let him. If he wants to sit on the armrest of Prime’s throne of lies, then fine, let him.

Megatron will let Starscream waste himself away. But will Starscream let himself waste away? What even happened to seduce him over to the Autobot’s side? One moment he was on a mission with Airachnid, then he didn’t return, and then he’s joined at the hip with Optimus all of a sudden. So what happened? Starscream has a grand and terrible fate ahead of him. He could become the duplicate Prime, the mouthpiece, the alternate version of Optimus who Optimus can control and send out as he pleases so that he can be in two places at once. Perhaps the duplication process will be too successful and Starscream will become far too like Prime for anybody’s good. Starscream will be content to play second-fiddle and just be the Prime’s silver winged facsimile for some reason. Maybe pretending to be someone else makes him feel loved.

But here is the real question: why could Optimus do what Megatron couldn’t? How could he obtain the true and ultimate loyalty of Starscream in the span of a few days even though Megatron spent thousands of years trying to obtain that loyalty? There’s something deeper going on here and Megatron must unbury it.

Further observation and testing is required.

[the-most-slytherin-hufflepuff]

Open your eyes (Chapter 1)

And the madness begins Here you go peeps chapter 1. I’m posting it now because I probably won’t have time during the weekend.  I loved writing this one and I hope you enjoy it. Credit for the characters goes to @lumosinlove​. 

There are mentions of blood and injury in this chapter

@clearsuitcasecookienerd I think you asked me to tag you but i can’t remember so I’m tagging you anyway :)) 

Masterlist

Remus was going to murder Finn. He read over the letter one more time to check if he hadn’t missed anything, he knew he hadn’t. Remus had probably read and reread that letter about a hundred times since Heather had handed it to him three days ago. It’s contents always saying the same thing. Finn was getting married. His best friend had been courting the crown prince of Hufflepuff for a year and now they were getting married, and Remus was just finding out. 

He was happy for Finn, his friend had had his eye out for the blonde prince for years now. That, however, didn’t take away from the fact that Finn had conveniently forgotten to mention he had started courting Leo in any of his letters during the past year. If he thought that would stop Remus from threatening Leo Knut with death if he ever hurt Finn he clearly didn’t know him as well as he should.  

Remus put the letter down and picked up a piece of blank parchment, dipping the tip of his quill pen in the black ink. He thought about how he should respond, if he should respond at all. Maybe he should just go home and congratulate Finn in person, right after strangling him for being a complete idiot. Before he could decide on what to do he heard the door to the physician's chamber open, he didn’t need to see who it was to know Sirius was there. He was the only person stupid enough to come into Minerva’s working space without knocking. 

“Remus, are you here?” There was a pained edge to his otherwise casual tone that made Remus’s eyebrows furrow in worry. 

“One second.” Remus put the quill in the ink pot carefully and stood from his chair. Sirius was sitting in one of the stools when he came out of his room, his left shoulder was bleeding. “Snape needs to calm down”, Remus said in an irritated tone, “that’s the third time he’s injured you this month. And before you say something stupid about how injuries happen, or whatever other nonsense I’m sure is about to come out of your mouth, I want to point out that the injury is on your back and Snape has absolutely no business pointing the sword at your back.” During his rant Remus had gathered what he would need to clean, possibly stitch, and bandage Sirius’s injury. 

Sirius flinched when Remus pressed a wet rag to his bleeding shoulder blade. “How did you know it was Snape?” Remus made a noncommittal sound before answering. “Every time you come in here it’s either because you decided it would be ok to not stay up all night to do work or because Snape got aggressive during training.” He paused for a second assessing the damage now that the blood was gone. “And since you aren’t being carried in here passed out cold in Sir Pascal’s arms my guess is it was the latter.” Remus went silent, concentrating in threading the silk string through the needle. He didn’t like stitching when the person was conscious to feel it, but maybe he could do something to help with the pain. He knew using his magic on Sirius was risky, but he didn’t want to cause the prince any extra discomfort. 

“You need stitches, just so you know.” Sirius groaned, he hated getting stitches. “Just nod when you’re ready.” Sirius took a deep breath, then nodded slowly, bracing himself for the feeling of metal piercing skin. He winced slightly, but was surprised when he noticed it didn’t hurt as much as he thought it would. 

“How come it doesn’t hurt that much?” Remus stayed silent for a moment, concentrating on the repetitive pattern of knitting Sirius’s skin back together, before answering. 

“I’m not sure. Maybe the pain from the original cut is numbing this one a little.” Sirius hummed, trying to relax as much as he could. He winced every now and then, but barely felt anything. When Remus was done Sirius let out a heavy breath. “Be careful until that’s healed”, Remus ordered in a stern voice. 

“Of course my lord. Anything else.” Remus raised an eyebrow at Sirius, he didn’t appreciate the mocking tone. 

“Yes actually. You’re banned from training till further notice.” He took incredible satisfaction in seeing Sirius splutter in indignation. 

“You can’t do that.” 

“I can and I will.” Remus crossed his arms over his chest and met Sirius’s eyes. “No harsh movements with your shoulder means no training. I will strap you to your bed if I have to, you are not training for at least three days.” 

“Fine”, the prince grumbled. 

Remus beamed at him. “Great. Now, you’re not dying and I already took care of you so, please leave. I have matters to attend to.” 

“Trying to get rid of me, huh?” Sirius feigned hurt. “And here I thought you liked me.” 

Remus hummed. “You know I do, But right now I’m trying to stay angry and you being here is not helping.” 

Sirius gave him a confused look. “Angry. Why?” 

“Because.” Remus threw his hands up in frustration. “Finn sent a letter saying that he’s getting married and I didn’t even know he was courting someone. And since I don’t really have an excuse to go to Gryffindor right now I have to make do with screaming at him through a letter.” 

A look of shock crossed Sirius’s features. “Wait. Finn, as in Finn O’Hara. The prince.” 

“Yes. My father is a member of the King’s council.” Now it was Remus’s turn to look confused. “He and I grew up together. I thought you knew that.” 

“You never told me.  How am I supposed to know, I don’t read minds.” 

“Obviously”, Remus’s tone took on a bitter edge. “If you did you wouldn’t be standing here right now.” 

“What do you mean.” 

“Mind reading is magic, Sirius. You would be exiled or worse, dead.” 

Understanding settled over Sirius like a cold blanket. He didn’t get why Remus sounded so bitter, maybe he didn’t agree with his father’s laws, maybe he knew someone with magic. Sirius did not want to think about sweet, intelligent Remus anywhere near magic or it’s influence. He couldn’t stand to see his boyfriend be corrupted. 

“Right. Well.” The silence that followed was uncomfortably tense. Sirius was the first to break it. “Well maybe you could come with the party that’s going to Gryffindor at the end of the week. Minerva has been really occupied with the illness that has taken over the lower town and she won’t be able to go.” Sirius relaxed when he saw the small smile that formed on Remus’s lips. “We need someone that knows their way around medicine.” 

“You do know that Gryffindor has physicians, right?” Remus asked, though the smile on his face told Sirius that he was going to go with them regardless. 

“I know that.” Sirius rolled his eyes. “Father doesn’t want…” he trailed off. Remus got what he wanted to say anyway, the smile slipping from his face. Orion didn’t want the physicians that had magic. The irony almost made Remus snort. 

“Right. Magic.” He made sure to keep the bitterness out of his tone this time. “It’ll be nice to go back home. I haven’t seen Jules in three years.” 

“Who’s Jules?” Sirius was starting to realize how little he knew about Remus’s life before he came to Slytherin. It made his chest ache. 

Remus’s face softened. “My brother. He should be turning sixteen this summer.” His smile turned a little sad. “It’ll be nice seeing him again.” 

Sirius didn’t know what to say, or if he should say anything at all, he didn’t know what not having his brother around was like. “It’s a pity Reg won’t be coming. I’m sure he and your brother would have gotten along.” 

“They would probably tear the kingdom to shreds, Julian is very chaotic.” Remus’s honey colored eyes shone brightly. “Gryffindor already has to deal with the chaos that is Finn, and I.”

“I want to meet all your friends.” 

Remus narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “Why?” 

“What? Can’t I want to meet your friends without any ulterior motives?” 

“No”, he responded simply. 

“Ok fine it’s because I want the embarrassing stories.” Remus rolled his eyes. “I need teasing material Re. I have nothing on you.” 

“Maybe I just don’t do anything embarrassing.” 

“That is a big lie and you know it. You trip on air all the time.” Remus glared at him. 

“Must I remind you that I can leave you out of knight training for a month.” 

Sirius’s eyes widened. “You wouldn’t dare.” 

Remus crossed his arms, a mischievous smirk appearing on his face. “Try me, sire.” He somehow made the title sound disrespectful, Sirius still didn’t understand how he did it. 

“Ok ok. I’ll behave”. Sirius raised his arms up in surrender. 

“Good.” Remus grinned at him, leaning on his toes to kiss Sirius, nipping at his lower lip. “Come on.” He grabbed Sirius’s hand and dragged him out into the hallway, dropping it once they could be seen by someone else. They spent the afternoon together. They were joined by Logan at one point. The other knight was excited to go to Gryffindor, apparently he and Finn had become friends during the week leading up to Sirius’s coronation, and had been sending letters back and forth for about a year and a half. 

After night had fallen Remus retreated to his room, the letter a distant memory. He passed out as soon as his head hit the pillow, his soft snores the only sound in the room. 

~*~*~*~*~*

Two days later they were riding toward Remus’s home country. He was nervous, he hadn’t seen Jules and Thomas in years and last time he saw Finn was two years ago, when Sirius got crowned as heir to the throne. The trip passed him by in a blur. They reached the entrance to the citadel a day and half after departing from Slytherin. By then the nerves had worn off, replaced by a burning excitement. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew that he had to be careful, but that rarely mattered when he saw his brother, clad in knights armor standing besides Finn and Alex. 

He saw Julian’s hand twitch, his caramel colored eyes, darker than Remus’s own, lighting up when he saw him. His face remained stoic, but Remus could tell he was trying to not smile. Besides him Finn studied the crowd, eyes narrowing slightly when he looked at Orion. The King walked down the stone steps to welcome the guests. 

He and Orion exchanged pleasantries and soon enough the Slytherin party had entered the palace. A group of maids and servants took care of guiding the guards and knights to where they would be staying for the week, some of them nodding towards Remus or saying hello. Julian waited for the crowd to thin before rushing to hug his brother. Remus gave a startled yelp, wrapping his arms around Julian and holding him close. There were tears shining in the younger’s eyes when they broke apart. 

“What are you doing here? I thought you were just an apprentice for Minerva.” 

“I am”, Remus answered, “but she couldn’t come. There’s an illness taking over in Slytherin’s lower town.” 

Julian frowned slightly. “That’s awful”, he smiled brightly again, Remus keeping up with Julian’s constantly changing emotions with ease. “I’m glad you’re here though.” He pulled Remus in again, hugging him tightly. 

Remus heard Finn yell behind them. “Jules, don’t be a Remus hog.” 

Julian looked up to where Finn was and yelled back. “He is my brother O’Hara. I will hog him however much I want.” He placed his head just under Remus’s chin, sighing contentedly. 

Remus heard footsteps coming up behind him, Finn appearing on his field of vision. “I would hug you. But I think your hands are full.” Julian glared at Finn, grumbling under his breath before settling into his brother’s arms again. Remus chuckled at his baby brother’s antics. 

He gave Finn a look that promised trouble. “Finn.” The other man visibly paled. “We’re discussing the letter later.” Finn relaxed a little at the small hint of excitement he could hear in Remus’s voice. 

Julian squeezed Remus tighter before letting go, saying he had to get back to training and that he would see his brother at home. Remus looked at Finn who was watching the brothers’ interaction with a fond smile. 

“He looks up to you a lot you know.” Finn said. “The little idiot wanted to use daggers. He got so frustrated when he found out that wasn’t his thing.” 

“What is his thing then?” 

Finn thought about it before answering. “He’s a natural at shooting. Crossbows, knives, bow and arrow.” 

“That’s great”,   Remus said, a proud glint in his eyes. “He spends a lot of time with you I’m guessing.” 

“Yeah. He’s gonna be better than me soon.” Finn sighed. “How do you handle all his energy? I swear even the puppies are less active.”

Remus chuckled. “I don’t handle it. I just let him do his thing until he passes out from exhaustion”, he shrugged, “works like a charm.”

The two of them turned when they heard a squeal. Lily Evans stood near the entrance, her hands covering her mouth. She snapped out of her daze and ran towards Remus. He caught her when she jumped at him, her legs wrapping around his waist. She buried her face on his shoulder, trying to hide the tears that were flowing down her face. 

“What are you doing here? When did you get here? Has Jules seen you yet? How long are you staying?” 

“I’m here because the Slytherin visitors needed a physician and Minerva couldn’t come. I just got here. Yes Jules already tried to strangle me but your giving him great competition.” Lily let her feet drop to the floor soundlessly, but kept her hold on Remus for a little longer. “Probably going to stay for a week.”

“Gods, that’s not nearly enough time.” She looked up at him with shiny green eyes, moving to be at arm's length with him. “I missed you, the castle isn’t as fun without you to help me pull pranks on everyone.” 

Remus laughed, he had missed his friend. “How’s James doing?”  

“Oh you know”, she waved a hand around, “the usual. You just missed him actually.” She gave him an apologetic smile. “He went back to Ravenclaw yesterday.” 

“Maybe that’s for the best. I can’t imagine what would happen if he were to cross paths with Sirius. That’s either going to be a dangerous friendship or they’ll hate each other.” 

She hummed, grabbing his hand and dragging him towards the training grounds. “Come on.” He and Finn followed behind her. When they reached the grounds they saw a small group of knights fighting with blunt weapons. Remus noticed that all the sorcerers were conveniently missing from the bunch. 

She guided Remus to the armory. “Go get your things. You owe me a fight after last time.” She had begun strapping leather gauntlets on her wrists. He looked around the armory to where he usually left his personal stuff, everything was where he had left it. Someone, probably Lily, had kept his daggers sharpened and polished. 

After they put on all of their protective gear, Lily and Remus headed out of the armory and went to the sparring square. “Hey Finn”, everyone stopped what they were doing when they heard Lily’s voice, “mediate for us will you?” 

Finn nodded, a grin appearing on his face, and walked to the edge of the square. “You know the rules. One round. First to draw blood wins unless the other yields.” 

The rest of the knights had gathered around to watch the fight. Remus stood at one end completely relaxed, Lily mirrored his stance. They studied each other for a moment, waiting for who would strike first. Tense silence had fallen over the square, everyone held their breath, until finally, Lily moved. 

The only sound in the clearing was the loud clashing of blades. Lily’s steps were near silent, almost like she were floating above the ground. Remus matched her pace perfectly, able to predict her every move like a well practiced dance. Remus punched her in the stomach making her lose balance, falling to the ground with a small thud. He pointed his dagger at her throat. “Yield”. 

Sirius and Logan watched the battle going on in front of them with wide eyes. They had heard the clashing of steel while walking through the castle and went to investigate only to find Remus fighting a red headed girl. His control with the daggers was almost flawless. The girl, who had a knife in her hand and three more strapped to her hips and thighs, battled with deadly precision. She would’ve made a worthy opponent to either of them. She looked at Remus with steely determination, she refused to let him win so easily. If Logan hadn’t been paying such close attention to the battle he would have missed it. Quick as lightning, the red head swiped Remus’s legs from under him, making him fall backwards, his dagger skittering across the ground.

 She stood up, holding two knives now, and lunged at Remus. He got up, stumbling over to where his blade had landed. He felt the brush of Lily’s blade against his back, it was nothing but a feather-light touch, but it was enough to warn him of what would come next. 

He grabbed the small knife that he kept hidden in his boot and turned, quick enough to meet Lily’s blade. There was fire in her gaze, barely suppressed magic burning under her skin. Remus felt the familiar buzz of his own magic trying to get out, but he kept it down with practiced ease. He felt Lily push harder with her blade, saw her other hand move back to slash at his stomach. He jumped out of the way, landing far enough away that the blade didn’t graze him. 

Sirius watched both fighters as they assessed each other with sharp focus, the silence in the grounds was absolute. Remus looked between his dagger laying on the ground and the redhead, he twisted the knife he was holding and smirked. The girl smiled brightly, eyes sharp. Sirius couldn’t figure out who would win, Remus’s usual clumsy self was gone and in its place stood a skilled warrior. 

They met in the middle of the square, the girl’s twin blades blocking Remus’s attack. She pushed back with enough force to make him stumble, before he could get too far she jammed the butt of her knife into Remus’s ribs making him double over in pain. She tripped him, making him fall back again, pinned his hands down at his sides with her knees and put the edge of her blade to the base of his neck. “Yield.” 

Remus’s glare in that moment would have made any man tremble, but the girl seemed unaffected. She put a little more pressure on the blade. “Yield, Remus.” 

He looked at her face for a moment. Whatever he was looking for he must have found, all the fight left him in a gust of air. “I yield.” The crowd erupted into cheers. 

The girl nodded, sheathing her knives and standing up. Remus took her offered hand and stood up, punching her shoulder lightly. She said something to him that made him laugh brightly, the hostile energy between them seemingly gone as fast as it had appeared. 

Remus locked eyes with Sirius from across the field, a teasing smirk pulling at his lips. He tapped the girl on the shoulder and pointed towards him and Logan. She said something to him and he nodded before walking over, the girl and another red headed boy walking behind him. Sirius recognized the other man as Prince Finn O’Hara.                              

“Did you know Remus could do that.” Logan sounded as surprised as Sirius felt. Sirius shook his head, unable to form words. 

“Hey guys.” Remus sounded a little breathless, but seemed otherwise unaffected by the fight. 

“Aren’t you going to introduce us Re?” The girl’s tone was teasing, but her eyes were looking at Sirius like she was trying to figure out his next move. 

“Right. Sorry.” Remus coughed loudly. “This is Lily. Lily this is Prince Sirius Black.” 

The girl extended her hand in greeting. Sirius shook it. “Please, call me Sirius. No titles unless we’re in my father’s presence.” Lily looked at him with an unreadable expression. She nodded and squeezed his hand lightly before letting go. Sirius felt like he had just passed some sort of test. 

“And this”, he pointed to the other red head behind him who was smiling at Logan, “is Prince Finn O’Hara.” He looked at Logan. “I believe the two of you have met before.” Sirius thought he saw a small blush appear on Logan’s cheeks. 

Finn’s nose scrunched up. “It’s so weird to hear you using my title.” 

“That was a great fight”, Logan praised, “why didn’t you tell me you could do things like that. Do you have any idea how long I’ve been wanting a sparring partner.” 

Sirius made an indignant sound. “I’m standing right here Tremblay.” 

“Yeah, but you don’t know how to use daggers. You almost cut your hand off the one time you tried.” 

Remus looked at Sirius with a disbelieving look, while Lily and Finn tried not to laugh. “You did what?” 

“He’s exaggerating.” 

Logan glared at him. “Really? Because the way I recall it you cut your palm open when the grip slipped.”

A few giggles escaped Lily before she could stop them. She took a breath to try and calm down before speaking. “Let me guess, he tried to handle the dagger like he would a sword.” At Logan’s nod she sighed disappointedly. “Typical.” 

“He never bothered learning how to use them properly afterwards.” 

Remus looked at Sirius, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Well, there’s no time like the present.”  

Sirius made a distressed noise. “No. Remus I can’t.” 

“Don’t worry”, Finn interjected, “Remus and Lily are the best. Besides, Jules will probably want Remus to teach him the basics. You can be his sparring partner.” As if on cue, Julian appeared at Finn’s shoulder, startling him. “I’m putting bells on your feet.” 

Julian giggled, “Sorry.” He moved to stand besides Remus and leaned against his brother, eyes shining with excitement. “You’re going to teach me?” Remus nodded, giving Sirius a look that made him cave in. 

“Alright”, Sirius’s shoulders slumped in defeat, “I’ll try the daggers out.” Sirius smiled weakly at Julian, who was beaming at him and bouncing on the balls of his feet. 

Finn grabbed Logan’s wrist and guided him inside to explore the castle, leaving Sirius and Remus with Lily and Julian. Remus chuckled when Lily looped her arm through Sirius’s and dragged him away, he turned back to look at his boyfriend with a pleading expression. Remus shrugged, leaving Sirius to his luck and Lily’s mercy. 

“Is he going to be ok?” Julian asked. 

“Yeah.” Remus answered dismissively, putting his arm around the younger boy’s shoulders. “Let’s go home.” The two brother’s walked away from the training grounds and headed to the citadel, laughing and shoving at each other playfully. They were both gasping when they reached their house. 

They walked in, Julian signaling for Remus to stay quiet and go hide before announcing his presence. “Hi mom.” 

“Hey honey. How was your day?” Came Hope Lupin’s from the general direction of her office followed by the soft sound of footsteps. 

“It was great. You’ll never guess who I found.” 

She came into the room and Remus had to hold himself back from coming out of his hiding spot and running into her arms. “Are you going to tell me who it was or am I going to have to start naming people?” 

A soft gasp escaped her lips when she saw Remus emerging from where he had been hiding. “Surprise”. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly, resting his cheek on top of her head. She smiled brightly when they separated, a fond look on her eyes. His father entered the room a few moments later, pulling him into a tight hug. There was bright laughter and teary smiles that left a warm feeling in Remus’s chest. They spent the afternoon catching up, laughing and joking like they used to before Remus left for Slytherin.

Hours later, after Jules had fallen asleep with Calliope curled around his shoulders, Remus went into his old room. Everything was the same, the bed sheets had been cleaned and his mess had been organized, but everything else remained the same. His eyes flashed gold, lighting up the candles and stirring the stale air of the room gently. He sighed tiredly, crawling into bed and burying himself under the soft covers, a content smile on his face. 

He thought about Sirius, he wanted to show him everything. All the places where he had spent hours reading or spending time with Finn, the place where he had met Thomas, where he and Lily used to spend time practicing their magic. He knew Sirius couldn’t know about his abilities, maybe someday he could show him, but for now he wanted to share his home with him. Home was everything Remus loved. 

Home were his friends, his family, his magic. Sirius. 

*~*~*~*~*

Two days later Remus found himself alone with Sirius back at the training grounds. Sirius frowned in frustration, trying to make some sense out of what Remus had told him to fix about his technique. He looked to the side, where his boyfriend was standing, staring at him with an amused glint in his eye. “I don't understand why I can’t just use my sword”, Sirius whined, “I’m already good at that.” 

Remus gave him an exasperated glare, Sirius still caught the amused twitch of his lip. “Because, weapon versatility is one of the most important attributes a warrior could have.” He grabbed Sirius’s hand, a small smirk tugging at his lip, and pulled him close. “And, daggers are better when it comes to close range fights.” 

“Is that so?” Sirius raised an eyebrow at him. “And, do tell, why would I want to use a weapon that requires me to get that close.”

Remus shrugged, using the motion to slip the small blade from the sheath at his thigh and letting his hand hang at his side, the point of the dagger clutched lightly between his fingers. “I guess you’re right, but what if you don’t get to choose your range, m’lord?”  

Before he could answer Remus flicked the blade into the air and knocked Sirius feet from under him in one smooth motion. He straddled his hips, catching the dagger, the leather grip landing on his palm, and pressing its razor sharp edge to the side of Sirius’s throat with barely there pressure.  

“Like say, someone catching you unawares and pointing a very sharp deadly object to a very”, he leaned in to whisper in Sirius ear, making a shiver run down his spine, “very vulnerable part of your body.” He took the dagger away from Sirius’s neck replacing it with his lips in a feather light kiss that made Sirius melt a little under him. He stood up gracefully, offering his hand to Sirius who was still slightly dazed. “Come on”, he pulled him up with a grunt, “let’s get back to work.” 

Sirius stared at him, heat spreading through his neck up to his cheeks. “You expect me to concentrate. After that.” 

Remus looked at him with an innocent expression. “After what, sweetheart.” 

“N-Nothing. Work right. Let’s get back to work.” 

Remus giggled, shaking his head fondly and walking to the other side of the training grounds, ignoring his boyfriend’s questions. He had asked Lily to come help him with Sirius’s training, she had a talent for teaching even the most stubborn students. Ha saw her coming out of the armory with her knives strapped to her legs and a pair of blunt daggers. 

“How’s my student doing?” She asked, walking besides him back to where Sirius was watching them with a weary expression. 

“He’s fine. I was just showing him why he should learn how to hold his own with short range weaponry.” She gave him a skeptical look. He just batted his eyelashes at her in faux innocence, she shoved his face away with her palm making him laugh loudly. 

“What did you do?” They were close enough that Sirius could hear their conversation. 

“I just did the same thing you did to James when he tried to show off. Back when he was a pining mess and trying to win your affection.” 

She hummed. “Good”.

“I learned from the best.” They stopped in front of Sirius. Remus gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked back to the entrance that led to the palace. “He’s all your Lils. I expect him back in one piece.” 

“Yeah yeah”, she waved dismissively, “I won’t kill your man. Now go, you’re distracting him and Jules is waiting for you.” 

Lily turned to look at Sirius, a smirk on her lips. He swallowed nervously, back straightening slightly. “Now the real fun begins.” She tossed the blunt blades at him, he fumbled with them for a moment, looking at her with pleading eyes. “Don’t look at me like that Black, I’m not torturing you.” 

“Remus couldn’t teach me how to do this properly. I’m no good.” 

She grabbed his face between her palms, staring into his eyes with a steady look. “Don’t say that. I’m here because I’m the best at this and because you’re my friend.” 

“But what if that’s not enough?” He sounded defeated, shoulders dropping. 

“I’m the one who taught Remus how to aim a knife properly. And I can assure you he was much worse at that than you are at this.” Her hands dropped to his shoulders, pushing them back gently so he was standing straight. “Chin up, your highness. Everyone has to start somewhere, and there’s no time like the present.” 

*~*~*~*~*

Logan walked to the library with his heart in his throat. Seeing Finn again after so long had been wonderful and painful at the same time. It hurt to know that the man he loved had fallen for someone else, but it was worse, because Logan had also fallen for the man Finn described in his letters. 

Leo had no face for Logan, no body, no voice, no features. And yet he had crawled into Logan’s heart and settled there, at least the idea of him had. The man that Finn described with such love and adoration was someone Logan wanted, he wanted Finn, too. 

He wanted to put a face to the idea and see if he could still love Leo the same. He at least wanted to put a face to the man that had won his affection without uttering a single word. Logan didn’t know Leo, he knew of Leo, but that was enough. Enough for him to fall so deeply so fast, the problem was that there was no one to catch him when he eventually met the ground. 

He opened the doors to the library soundlessly and walked inside, halting when he saw Finn, lying on one of the vibrant red couches, fast asleep, book clutched to his chest. The sight made him melt a little, he wanted to kiss the other boy awake, wanted to wrap him up in a hug, but he knew he couldn’t. So he settled for taking the book from Finn’s grasp, draping one of the blankets that were kept there over him gently, watching him shift to nuzzle the soft fabric with his cheek before settling again.

 He ran his hand through Finn’s auburn curls softly, a small whisper of I love you leaving his lips in a breath, and then he was gone. Leaving the library and part of his heart behind. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

On the third day of their visit to Gryffindor Snape came into the physician’s chamber looking like he had lost a fight with a rabid animal. He had cuts going down his left arm and a bruised collarbone. Remus had seen Snape trying, and failing, to flirt with Lily a few times during their stay at the palace and it appeared she had gotten fed up with his attempts. Remus barely suppressed a laugh and motioned for the night to sit down, turning around to look for the things he would need and so that Snape wouldn’t see him grinning. 

Remus had to fight down a smirk when he heard Snape hiss, the pressure of the wet rag making his arm sting. The cuts from Lily’s knives were still fresh, but no longer bleeding. The knight muttered an insult under his breath that made Remus rub the tender skin none too gently. The man winced, shoulders tense, but remained silent. 

A servant approached them cautiously, eyeing Snape like one would a wild dog. She lifted her gaze to look at Remus, a little of the apprehension leaving her eyes. He finished bandaging Snape’s arms. “I’d suggest you lay off training for today.” The knight rolled his eyes, but nodded anyway, leaving Remus alone with the serving girl. 

Once they were alone she spoke up. “There’s a messenger from Slytherin at the entrance asking for King Orion.” 

A crease of worry appeared between his eyebrows. “Did they say why?” 

The girl shook her head. “He just said that the King needed to head back immediately. I suppose he’ll explain more to his highness than he did to me.” 

“Lord Orion is in the Council chamber discussing some things with the king. Can’t it wait until that’s over?” 

“I don’t think so”, she answered, “he looked worried. I don’t think they would send someone if it wasn’t urgent.” 

“Thank you for telling me.” She bowed her head slightly. “Please tell this messenger to wait for me outside the Council chamber.” She gave another small bow and walked out the door. 

Remus followed behind her, turning to go to the library where he knew Logan and Sirius would be. He tried to think of any reason why the council would send someone to retrieve the king from such an important trip, but he came up with nothing. The only thing he could think was that someone had tried to take over, but that didn’t seem like it was it. 

“If you think any harder your brain is going to melt.” Remus jumped at the voice, he hadn’t heard someone approach him, too lost in thought to sense his surroundings. 

“Hey, Alex. Kasey.” 

The man fell into step besides him, his manservant following a few steps behind them, listening to their conversation in silence. “Something’s worrying you.” Alex looked at him with an unreadable expression. “This has something to do with that messenger right?” 

“How do you even know about that already?” 

Alex shrugged. “I have my ways.” He looked at Kasey with a smile. “So.” He turned back to Remus. “What’s wrong.” 

“I'm not sure”, Remus sighed. “Something happened. Bad enough that the council decided to call the king back knowing he could be about to enter into an alliance with your father.” They reached the entrance to the library. “That’s all I know. I need to get Logan and Sirius to the council chamber, the other knights are probably being notified and should be preparing to leave.”

Remus pushed the doors open, silent chatter feeling his ears. “Sirius”, he walked inside, “are you here.” 

“At the fireplace,” came Sirius’s voice from deeper in the room. “The others are here too” 

He sighed, walking to where his boyfriend was sitting, surrounded by Lily, Finn, and Logan. He looked at them with a weary expression, motioning for his friends to follow him. “We have to go.” 

“Why”, worry seeped into Logan’s tone, “what’s going on.” 

“A messenger arrived earlier today asking for King Orion and his party. He says that they’re needed back in Slytherin.” 

Logan looked at the redhead. “I’m sorry, but who are you and how do you know that?”

“Apologies, my name is Alex. I’m Finn’s brother. And, like I told Remus, I have my ways of knowing things.” 

“Stop smirking like a smug idiot and lead the way,” Finn stood up, the rest following behind. “We have somewhere to be.” 

They all walked down to the Council chamber where a boy was standing, looking at the doors with terrified eyes. He nodded nervously when he saw them, stepping back and vowing deeply. The guards bowed to Finn and Alex and opened the doors, cutting off the conversation going on inside the room. 

“Father”, Alex bowed, “an urgent message was sent to King Orion.” 

“And who has sent this message?” Orion’s voice was ice cold. 

 Alex held the man’s piercing stare. He motioned for the boy to step forward, encouraging him to speak up. “I did, m-m’lord.” The boy bowed. “There’s a s-situation that requires your immediate attention.” 

“And this situation”, the king’s voice remained calm, the boy shivered at the cold tone, “it couldn’t wait?” 

“No, sire”, the boy’s voice shook. “I-It’s prince Regulus.” He took a deep breath. “He’s gone.” 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The ride back to Slytherin was quiet, tense. Orion hadn’t said a word since they had departed and it didn’t seem like he would. Something had changed about him. His face betrayed no emotion, as always, but everyone could tell something was different. 

They reached the Citadel in the evening two days later. The King strode inside the castle and into the Council chamber, leaving his horse behind for some stable boy to take care of.

 Sirius stared after him with an unreadable expression. Remus took his hand in his, making sure no one was looking at them. “Let’s go.” He nodded, squeezing Remus’s hand before letting go and walking through the palace entrance, his boyfriend following close behind. 

The prince fell into Remus’s arm, silent sobs racking his body and making him shake. He held him until Sirius was too exhausted to do anything more than walk to his bed and letting himself drop on the soft mattress, pulling Remus down and hugging him tightly, burying his face in the soft fabric of his boyfriend’s shirt. 

They said nothing. It had been two long days of unsaid words and silent reassurance when they were alone. Sirius stayed in his boyfriend’s arms, trying to ignore the pain in his chest. Trying to ignore the fact that his brother was gone, missing, and no one knew what to do. “What do you think about everything?” He asked softly, words muffled by Remus’s shirt. 

“It was a targeted attack. Someone knew we would be gone.” 

Sirius nodded. “I don’t want to jump into conclusions”, he took a steadying breath, “but is it possible this was done by a sorcerer?” 

Remus wanted to say no. That there had to be another explanation, but he couldn’t find any. Regulus had disappeared without a trace, his room was completely intact, there was no sign of struggle anywhere and no one had seen him going out or anyone coming in. “It’s possible”, was the only answer he could give him. It seemed to be enough for now. They lapsed into silence, night had already fallen. No one came looking for Sirius, there was no reason to disturb the prince when they didn’t know anything. 

Remus ran his hands through his love’s hair, eyes flashing golden. The other man gave a small content humm, falling asleep minutes later, an almost peaceful sleep. A small trick Leo had taught him, if the mind feels safe it’s easier to fall asleep. So he let his magic flow through his fingers, let it envelop Sirius in as much warmth and love as he could muster. It was dangerous, he knew that, but when the love of his life was suffering he couldn’t bring himself to care.

Another flash of his eyes and all the candles went out. Remus almost felt sorry for whoever had dared take his friend, hurting his boyfriend in the process. Almost. 

[5lazarus]

Nonsexual acts of intimacy - (1) Taking a bath together, while (2) reading a book together

as soon as I got this I saw a quodo post so you’re getting some unholy quark bathing in odo while odo reads a bodice ripper and I cannot tell if I’m ashamed or gleeful that I wrote this going to crosspost to AO3 here

Quark knows he can be anywhere. Warily he removes his towel and steps into the hot spring. Odo could even be the water, the man’s got no boundaries in the heights and depths of his obsession. Quark hisses at the heat, but sinks into the pool slowly. His eyes dart around, searching for wrong-way currents. The pool ripples as it should, and Quark is almost disappointed. He would have liked to catch him out.

They weren’t at Risa, alas. They were at yet another symposium on the economics of the Occupation, at one of Bajor’s better moons. The Nagus wanted a representative, so he went, and Odo followed--“for security reasons,” so he claimed, as if it were possible to broker a transport deal with the Orion Syndicate under so many tense Bajoran eyes. It was more than possible, it was supposed to happen, and it still would--Odo wouldn’t have catch him out, he had delegated the actual contract negotiations to Leeta. When in doubt, send in the shop steward. The union would take a small percentage of the cut, the deal would come off, and he could leverage the money they’d make to argue against the incremental raise they wanted for the next solar year. Holiday bonuses? Quark snorted and sunk his lobes deep into the mineral water. He’d let the Grand Exchequer run bankrupt before capitulating to Rom again. Eyes barely visible over the steaming water, Quark glowered. Odo was afoot and he knew it, and he could not get his back to relax. The water caressed invitingly at all through scrunched-up muscles, but Odo crossed his arms and brooded. Where could the Constable be? He checked the water again, looking for discolorations and weirdly-static ripples. Ferengi had been quasi-crustacean, every primal instinct was screeching at him to watch out, he knew something was there. Quark stood up suddenly. “Odo!” he growled. “I know you’re there, you pervert!” He smirked to himself: that’ll get him. The water split and swirled, and out rose his least favorite goo monster, still forming the facsimile of clothes. Quark rolled his eyes. The man was so buttoned-up he couldn’t even form genitalia, let along a semblance of a chest, or--Quark grinned devilishly--a nipple, if he ever knew what those were. Odo posed, arms crossing, projecting an aura of unbothered authority. Quark stared steadily back, conscious of the fact that he was naked. Odo gazed at a spot beyond Quark’s head. “Quark!” Odo rumbled. “I know you’re up to something.” “Oh, clearly,” Quark said. “I was taking a bath, you weirdo. I could sue you for this, you know. Invasion of privacy and--sexual harassment. I’d like to see the look on Captain Sisko’s face when that brief crosses his desk.” Odo made a disgusted noise. “I was merely...relaxing when you stepped into me.” Quark thought, sounds dirty. He snorted. “And you were just too embarrassed to let me know we were mingling?” Odo put his hands up. “You didn’t give me a chance before--disrobing. I was trying to leave discreetly.” Quark laughed. He was obsessed with him. “Well, leave. Unless you’re enjoying the view. Then I will charge.” He sank back down into the water, grinning. It was good to fluster the Constable, and even better to get him to loosen him up a little. This would be enough blackmail for at least one discount cargo bay rental. If Odo could spit, he would have. “Don’t flatter yourself, Quark.” He sat down at the other end of the pool and pulled out a pad from the undergrowth. Quark raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t been lying, then. He really was too easy to fluster, if just a little nudity got him this inept. That was something he could work with. He just thought he liked more humanoid women, that’s all. “What’re you reading?” Quark asked. Odo sniffed. “Good book?” Quark tried again. Odo made a face, but continued to make a show of reading. He flipped the digital page and hummed to himself, offkey. It was the Internationale. O’Brien had taught Leeta who taught everyone, last week: fucking Federation types. “Do you mind?” Quark demanded. “I’m trying to relax here!” “And I’m trying to read,” Odo retorted. He looked smug, and continued to hum communist propaganda under his breath. Quark scowled. The Federation Labor Council had discontinued use of the song in memorial ceremonies after linking with the Andorian Workers Collective and the Betazed Union Network, but O’Brien and Bashir still sang it when they got particularly rowdy at the bar, especially after Rom won the union drive. It was annoying. Odo knew it was annoying. He was doing it on purpose, and Quark had to get back at him. Quark smirked, a devilish thought swirling. He patted the water’s surface twice. Odo twitched. Quark continued to splash idly. “Quark,” Odo growled. Quark splashed innocently. “What?” “The splashing.” “I have a right to splash,” Quark said. “If you’re humming, I can splash. There’s no law against that.” “There should be,” Odo said. “Being a public nuisance.” Quark traced a spiral in the water, working himself to a rhythm. Odo looked deeply uncomfortable. Just one more try, then, and he’ll be finished. “I’m wondering--” “No.” Quark rolled his eyes, but continued, “I have to wonder, Constable. When you turn to your--goo state, do you blend with the water? How close to me did you get? Because I’m fine with you looking.” He smiled at Odo innocently. “But if you’re touching, well--I’m certain we can arrange a mutually beneficial deal. I’m certain we can hammer something out.” Odo stood up so quickly he stretched and shot up a few inches taller. “I’m going.” He slung himself out of the pool, dropping the pad at the end of the hot spring. Quark cackled. “Oh, don’t be shy!” he called after him. “I’m just having fun.” He watched Odo’s back as he retreated. Quark sunk back into the water, chuckling to himself. He had scored a major victory against the Constable and his prudishness, doubtless he would pay the price. But for now, he was going to rest in his laurels and enjoy his song-free bath. He was curious, though, what was the Constable reading? He swam over and picked up the pad. “Tanner’s Twelve Swingers,” Quark read. “By Lawrence Block. ‘Tanner’s agreed to smuggle a sexy Latvian gymnast—the lost lady love of a heart-sick friend—out of Russia. With the Cold War at its chilliest and the Iron Curtain slammed shut, this will not be easy, especially since everybody in Eastern Europe, it seems, wants to tag along, including a subversive Slav author and the six-year-old heir to the nonexistent Lithuanian throne.’ What the fuck?” Quark put the pad aside. He was expecting a blatant romance novel, not a spy thriller with a slight erotic twist--and a smuggler as the hero. Could it be that Odo was more sympathetic than he thought? “I’ve got to tell Garak about this,” Quark said. “The Major. We can do a holoprogram, spring it on him. As a gift, but monetize it. The latinum, on Bashir alone. And it’s not plagiarism, just business. The Constable’s business!”

[edge-lorde]

hp update: 1st leg of quidditch sideplot completed; jocks reviewed. 

also a few other things. last i left you i had decided to take a break from the main plot to focus on sidequests only. howsoever, the game is set up in such a way that every now and then it will have you wait 3-6 hours before you can play the next level. this actually lends itself very well to how i was playing. i would first start out doing a quidditch level, then hit a paywall and so move to another of the sidequests, and should i hit another paywall id move back to the main plot for a level. in this way i actually got caught up on the chapters and the sidequests for a time. now a new chapter has been released a day ago or so, but i wanted to write an update before i started it, so here we are.

I BOUGHT THE DANG HORSE. the abraxan. i managed to scrape up enough red notebooks to buy it but now i have to gain max animal friendship with it so that quest is at a stand still again. i named it horse town.

andres sidequest ended up extremely bitter sweet... he tells me all about his sports bully and i advise him to confront the unsavory individual, since he obviously didnt want to get the school staff involved. 

the intervention backfired however, and the two ended up dueling. the bully is kicked off the sports team, but andre is also banned from playing the next game. this is rather heartbreaking because he tells you that his grandmother is extremely ill, not likely to live much longer, and she had made special plans to travel to hogwarts to see his next game. she was the person who got him into quidditch and gave him his first real broom, which i now see is the very same one i borrowed from him in year 4 to sneak out of the castle on. snape snapped it in two.

while i am reeling from the realization that no one ever managed to fix that and give it back to him, he says “its ok.... well, no actually, its not.” but hes not mad anymore. he gives me a special quidditch necklace his grandmother also gave him and theres no option to refuse to take it. 

i get the feeling that there was a route i could have taken to get the good andre ending, where the bully is punished but he is not and his grandma gets to see him play. story-wise, its a good tone shift. actions have consequences and the mc has responsibilities. i still want to find a way to make it up to andre somehow....

but back to the main order of quidditch business. 1st off, we have 3 new children.

1: skye parkins. this girl is the heir to the parkins quidditch throne. a big deal, apparently. probably has adhd. penny is a huge fan of hers. i think she and the other 2 new kids change house based on whichever house the mc is in. skye in particular has some great new animations that i am a huge fan of, like tearing pages out of a book ad infinitum, and swinging a broom like a baseball bat in order to knock gnomes out of a stadium and back into hagrids garden. im pretty sure her voice lines are shared with merula. played one mini game with her and it blasted me up from friendship level 1 to level 4. 

2: murphy mcnully. not actually on the team, but an “unbiased” announcer. loves talking quidditch strats and just talking in general. gets his own special talking animations, used both when announcing and talking one on one-- this boy just cant turn it off! possibly autistic, definitely a wheelchair user. gets his own special wheeling animations and when you eat lunch with him his chair never disappears, it can be scene off to the side, empty, not clipping through the table. this is the kind of attention to detail i like to see. did one minigame level with him and was also blasted to level 4. however-- YOU CANNOT PLAY GOBSTONES WITH THIS BOY!!! i imagine that this is because this is a game played sitting on the ground..... i guess it would be too awkward to try to model a scenario in which gobstones is played on a table.... it makes me so sad... his voice lines are also shared with charlie. 

3: orion amari: this boy is the shaggy of the troupe. captain of the team and really into forcing his players to balance on one leg on their brooms for hours on end, he is all about going with the flow, which infuriates the uber-active skye. also has his own special talking animations and body language, just imagine the hippie character archetype and you got it. hes got some pretty sick broom surfing moves and we also get some great trying to balance one-legged on a broom while being attacked by pixies animations from levels with him. i dont think ive gained his friendship rights yet. his facial hair does a good job of making him look more like a teen when hes the same height as all the other kids. i dont think he has any voice lines assigned to him at all. i guess none of the existing kids have voices that would suit him as well. 

the actual gameplay itself is fun too. its like the “focus” minigame in class where instead of clicking the circle, you drag a ball to bonk into the circle and there are 4 of them. sometimes you have to hit them in a certain order, sometimes its timed, and sometimes its both. pretty easy to win. costs a lot of coins that pile on quick. 

ive caught up with the quidditch plot but it was left on a cliffhanger so we shall see.....

[codeprint]

@rexcrystallis​ okay this has been in my drafts for literal months apparently

i dont remember writing it but pain is inside

Prince Prompto sui Besithia Izunia should not have sat on the throne.

He was not the direct heir, people argued. That title belonged to his older brother, Loqi Tummelt - but that marriage had been annulled when it saw it’s end. The boy, his claim, all had been discarded to the winds in favor of his safety.

Prompto was a bastard. Born of a torrid affair between his noble father and a lowly scientist. Born sick, and small and neatly ignored the second Verstael deemed the boy unfit. Were it not for the Chancellor, well -- the child may well have died down there in a forgotten crib.

But when Iedolas passed he left no heirs. Verstael had abdicated his claim years ago and had no intention of reclaiming it  - he had only one son with a standing claim.

There was no civil war, though those who opposed the changes made to the Empire threatened to make one. They would get the distant relations in other countries to stake their claims, they would take the Tummelt boy and rail against his disinheritance, they would rend Niflheim in twain in order to have their way.

But then Chancellor Izunia had presented his choice for the future. A bright eyed boy of four, who clung to his pantleg and shivered in the chill of the Throne Room. The Chancellor spoke of the boy as if he were his own, introducing him with a soft smile. And the people feared him, the stories that were told behind closed doors of a man who commanded monsters, so they did not argue.

The people easily grew to love him. He was a sweet boy, a kind boy. The world needed more of those.

The warmongers grew to hate him. He was a sweet boy, a kind boy. The world had no more need of bleeding hearts.

They hated him when he was old enough to interview and be asked his opinion. They hated him when he shifted focus from warfare to welfare, focusing on the citizens the Empire had rather than the ones it did not. Prompto’s poor health meant he never enlisted in the service, as his father and uncle had before him. Instead of a sword he was given history books, science as a shield. They hated him because he was not a warrior, he was a scholar, and he ran his country with this in mind.

They loved him no better when a true peace treaty with Lucis was brokered at age sixteen. Ardyn had stepped aside and allowed his son to take the charge, for he had no love for the country and would rather see it blighted from the map. The young prince had locked eyes with the Prince of Lucis and scrapped and fought with him for a fair agreement, one that would not leave either side feeling like they’d won or lost too much. When the tabloids caught the two of them spending time outside the meetings, talking, laughing, bonding.

An attack comes a few days before he’s to leave for the first time. Prompto flattens to the ground with practiced ease, sweating bullets and shaking. Aranea’s already charging off, and he shudders.

( they miss the slow burn of a romance forming. their connection had been instantaneous and passionate, but their will to act on it had taken far longer. )

Nor when he began spending summers abroad with Lucis’ Prince. When the papers ran rumors that the young men were too close, and perhaps they should fear a wedded alliance. When Lucis’ king took a bride, they held their breaths and waited for their leader to make the mistake as being lesser. To marry him, to become subservient to the Lucians he seemed to love so well -- yet they never married.

( not in the public eye, at last. the emperor wears a ring on a chain under his clothes. a symbolic wedding, not a legally binding one. they love each other too well to allow that love to destroy all they’ve worked for )

Still, he turned down potential brides that came courting. Rumors flew that he was in love with his Shield, a woman ten years his senior and twice as unruly, but that proved a moot point when she married another, producing her heir well before his. They assumed then that perhaps this would be like it was with Iedolas, that their Emperor would take no bride and have no sons. Up until he turned up with a son he named his heir, a boy with dark blue eyes and unruly blonde hair. A boy every bit the bastard his father was.

 They tired of it. They no longer waited silently.

They sewed sedition in the minds of the weak. Spoke of greater times to the disenfranchised soldiers and the young, who knew not how bad things once were and could instead take their word that the problems with the nation were problems that their leader caused, not remnants of things he had fixed. They watched, and they waited.

And they waited.

 Ardyn died. Prompto took the title formally took the title.

The young Prince became unruly. Difficult to manage at times. The people within the palace knew it came from dealing with a father who was sick and another who lived half a world away, but the citizens only saw a sullen child acting out.

 Then the people drew comparisons between him and the children of the Lucian King, comparing his baby pictures with that of the press photos of Prince Orion and Anne Marie. They do not know the truth - that the boy is yet another product of his grandfather’s science, that he is how the Emperor cured the plague - but they know enough of it to make their decision.

Emperor Prompto sui Besithia Izunia should not have sat on the throne, and in their eyes he will die for sullying it. And Prince Aurum Liber Besithia Izunia will die before he has the chance to ruin their legacy further.

-

Prince Aurum returns from his school in Lucis in the summer months. Prompto laughs as his son grumbles about how he doesn’t need to go back, fourteen and thinking himself a man. That he knows enough not to go back. That he doesn’t need his father doting over him - either of them - but there’s a gentleness to him now that wasn’t there when he’d last set off. He doesn’t throw his bag into Prompto’s arms, he carries it himself. Only when he’s unpacked does he seek out his father for a hug, holding him tight. Prompto grins and ruffles his fingers through his hair, pressing a kiss to the top of his forehead. Laughing when the boy scrunches up his face and tries to pull back.

“Oh no you don’t,” he teases, locking his arms around his son with a laugh. “You owe me six months worth of hugs, buddy! And I intend to cash in!”

He tolerates it with only mild protesting.

No doubt this was a product of the latest hospitalization.

A grim realization that his father, young though he may be, was a very sick man.That he wouldn’t be around forever - and there was a very real chance that it could happen at any time. This time, he’d fallen and simply could not get back up. Aranea had found him on the floor of his study, confused and half-waking, unable to so much as lift himself onto his elbows. Noctis had abandoned whatever he was set to do to come to his side, afraid this may be the last time - but he’d pulled through, brushing it aside as though it were nothing, continuing to march stubbornly ahead.

Yet Aurum knew. His eyes are on the stylish cane that his father now carries as he pulls back, reaching out to hold his hand.

He calls Noct a few hours later. Lets him know Aurum got home safe and all is well. There’s an unspoken apology that Noctis couldn’t go with him -- an emergency had cropped up in the outskirts of Leides, something about the old mines and some old bases being filled with daemons. 

It’s no matter. They plan to reconvene later in the month. This is old hat, they’ve long since grown used to having their plans ruined by some emergency or another, such is the life of a leader. Distance no longer means anything to them, they’ve been doing this for decades now and knows that home comes before all else.

---

The palace is under siege when he wakes.

Some of the new housing staff has killed the more loyal retainers. Rigorous background checks cannot read the minds and hearts of those easily swayed, only see where it may happen. Aranea bursts into his room, covered in blood and burnt from getting there, and he knows from the expression on her face that this is more than a mere assassination attempt.

He yells at her for coming to him. Even if her daughter is to be his son’s shield, she should have gone to him.

He’s out of bed in seconds. Foregoes changing, instead charges through the fray to get to his son. His staff are experienced, they know what they’re doing -- but the doors to the Keep are being battered by battering rams, there is an army waiting outside their doors and his own simply won’t mobilize fast enough.

They haven’t reached the boy’s quarters yet. Aurum is wide-eyed and frightened, Arache looks no better off. Both have enjoyed a time of peace and don’t know what it means to fear war. He gathers the children into his arms briefly, tells them it will all be okay and then they’re hurrying through one of the many secret exits. 

The way is blocked. Men bigger and stronger than Prompto is, even in his prime. They laugh as they step forward, intending to shove backs to the walls and slay the whole royal family in one fell swoop.

They’d talked about this nightmare scenario, he and Aranea. On late nights when the unrest threatened to bubble over, when there seemed to be no end in sight to the protests or the vicious whispers of rumor.

They’d talked about what to do.

There’s a sound like shattering glass as he calls forth the magic of the Empire’s cracked and broken crystal. The men reel back, narrowly missing a round of fire that leaps where they stood. Prompto’s eyes glow a dull red, his breathing quickening with the strain of the magic.

She grabs the boy and her girl and leaps over their heads. In an instant a shield blocks off the path, leaving Prompto trapped on the other side with the enemy. Aurum stops short and tries to turn back, the color draining from his face.

He’s a smart boy. Smart enough to see a suicidal distraction for what it truly is.

“Aurum, go,” Prompto shouts, digging his heels into the ground.

“Dad-!”

“I said go!” He thunders, louder than he’s ever yelled at his son in his life. “I’ll be okay! Your old man has a few tricks left up his sleeves yet!”

He doesn’t need to see him to  see the disbelief in his eyes. The terrible knowing of what is to come. But Aranea hauls him forward (you’re supposed to be his shield! he shouts, desperation wining out over that carefully crafted stoicism) and he has no say. The Emperor would only slow them down -- he’s not yet an old man, but he’s a sick man. And he knows all too well the limitations of his body.

And if his life is cost of letting his son live, it’s a price gladly paid.

Come dawn, the castle has been left in ruins. 

The Emperor lays on the floor of his home, unable to lift himself up - unable to move at all. There’s a sword through his side, rubble across his chest - and he can do nothing but listen to the sound of it burn around him. 

So this is how it ends.

To his left, his phone is ringing. Frantically. Has been for nearly an hour now. The cracked phone sits just outside of his reach - he’s tried to reach for it, to answer, but he’s tired. The air is thick with smoke and he knows it doesn’t matter who comes now, it’s far too late. The magic burned him from the inside out, eating away at the unnatural parts of him and leaving the human parts too weak and broken to survive on their own.

Too late.

His eyes slowly drift shut.

They meet Noctis in Tenebrae. The king warps there through a dagger left in King Ravus’ care and his eldest son throws his arms around him, weeping into his chest.

[avengers-nextgen]

The Rise of The Lost XIX Part 1

It was a week since the battle against M.A.D’s forces. Bianca and Bucky were both certain that the industry still existed, whether it be elsewhere in the world, below ground, or somewhere they were licking their wounds. They were the first to say goodbye.

“We’ll find the rest of them. I can’t risk anything else like this happening because of my DNA,” Bucky sighed, running a tired hand down his face and taking a sip from the beer in his hand. He’d stayed up late talking with Steve and Natasha over the matter.

“It’s not your fault. You know that,” Steve insisted, “even if you haven’t said it I can tell. You blame yourself for what happened with Bianca.”

“It’s hard not to.” Bucky snorted, shaking his head. “I mean-I never wanted to be a parent. Hell I had a hard enough time taking care of both of you as kids. I just don’t think I’m going to be enough for her.”

“You’re all she knows,” Nat smiled slightly, “the only thing she has any evidence of. You’re going to surprise yourself James, you always do, and remember we’re always available if you need it.”

“Yeah, I know.” Bucky smiled, “I lucked out with a pretty damn good family.”

Bianca was more excited than Bucky was. She was determined to investigate her roots, discover more information on her mother, and find more of her real identity. It was hard to see her so happy when they didn’t want her to leave.

Nathaniel was worried about her naievity, she wasn’t used to normal life, and Alex fretted over what would happen should M.A.D recover both of them, Enzo was disappointed because he thought she was cool, and Scout couldn’t help but feel a bit nostalgic. Bianca gave everyone a giant hug as she waited for Bucky to double check the car they were using.

“Be careful,” Nathaniel warned as Scout added, “Be smart.”

“Live a little, would ya kid?” Orion had taught Bianca how to fist bump, and though it was awkward, she happily bumped her knuckles against his.

“I’ll see all of you as soon as possible.” She bounced on the balls of her feet. She looked like a little kid-a proper teenager- with her casual clothes on and a back pack slung across her shoulders.

“Alright! Hop on the Barnes express.” Bucky sighed patting Bianca on the shoulder. With a final wave she scampered off leaving Bucky to look at his niece and nephew. James saw the tears in his eyes first and tackled the man in a big hug.

“I’m gonna miss you Uncle Buck.” James mumbled into his chest.

“Me too.” Alex nuzzled her way into the hug as well.

“You two are pretty amazing you know. Thanks for everything you did for her. It’s not easy, and I should have done more, but if it wasn’t for you two I wouldn’t even be doing this with Bianca.” Bucky held both of them close. He’d seen them grow up over the years and they were starting to look like real adults. With one final hug Bucky lifted both of the kids off the ground. Alex and James couldn’t help but laugh before they were set down.

— — —

“Maps? What are you looking for? Treasure?” Piper chuckled looking at Thalia who was sitting in the living room with maps sprawled on the table.

“More or less,” Thalia smiled up at her, “I’m searching for locations that may have Asgardians.”

“I see.” Piper nodded, pursing her lips. “You’re serious about this then. Finding your people.”

“It feels like the right thing to do. They’ve been dispersed for far too long,” Thalia frowned. “It’s hard to imagine.”

“Do you need help?” Piper offered.

“Well, I’m trying to cross reference data bases with unusual occurrences that match Asgardian identifiers.” Thalia saw a small gleam settle in Piper’s eyes. “What?”

“Nothing, you’re just learning and all. I didn’t think you paid much attention to some of the stuff I said.” Piper admitted.

“Why wouldn’t I? You’re one of the most intelligent!” Thalia laughed. The two girl’s set to work on circling, drawing lines to, and crossing out portions of the map.

Their work was only interrupted when T’Challa-unexpectedly visiting- appeared nearby talking to Vision. Scout’s father nodded in agreement before disappearing briefly. Seconds later the sound of feet pounding down the hallway was followed by an elated, “DADDY!”

Siyanda hurtled into her father who was prepared for the impact. He laughed and rolled his eyes before pressing a light kiss to the top of her head. “Hello. My, look at you, you’ve gotten taller!”

“Dad, I stopped growing last year!” Siyanda snorted.

“Lies!” T’Challa teased.

“As excited as I am to see you, I know you don’t leave the kingdom behind unless it’s an emergency,” Siyanda frowned, and she took a step back to study her father’s face.

“It appears those smugglers have spurred a new industry.” T’Challa pursed his lips. “It’s becoming hard to manage. With the loss of Acacia and you being here...”

“I see,” the young princess nodded slowly, “you need me. Someone to lead the fighting effort?”

“Yes.” T’Challa nodded. “It’s time you begin your rise to the throne. This is the perfect opportunity to start taking a more involved role in the kingdom’s affairs.”

“A challenge I’ll happily accept.”

“As I thought, but are you alright leaving this life behind? It will not be a permanent course of action I assure you, but there is no set time when this will end.” T’ Challa’s eyebrows furrowed together in a concerned look.

“There isn’t much choice here,” Siyanda pressed her lips into a thin line. “It’s time I go home.”

Both royal heirs were set to leave on the same day. Everything was quieter than it had been with Bianca’s departure. One goodbye was now three.

“Tell us as soon as you find someone!” Alex hugged Thalia tightly, “it’ll be amazing!”

“I can’t wait, but I am nervous.” Thalia admitted bashfully.

“A warrior like you?” Scout arched a brow, “has nothing to be nervous of.”

“You’re the best big cousin! I mean I only have one but-that’s not the point!” Enzo smiled like a Cheshire Cat at his cousin. Thalia ruffled his hair despite his half hearted whining.

“I’m gonna miss you,” Piper sniffled, “Tech Buddy.”

Siyanda laughed and rolled her eyes but gave Piper an affectionate hug. “You keep up the work Stark. Perhaps we can be partners again?”

“Yeah, the lab’s gonna be really quiet.” Piper nodded.

“Quiet? With you? Not a chance!” Siyanda laughed, shaking her head.

The goodbyes continued until there wasn’t much else to do. T’Challa was waiting on the opened ramp of the jet. Siyanda turned on her heel and jogged off to meet up with her father before skidding to a stop. She’d forgotten one goodbye. Turning curtly she tackled Thalia in a bone crushing hug.

The blonde blinked in surprise but hugged her back. Nothing happened for what seemed like ages even after they pulled apart. Thalia frankly forgot how to speak and just stared at the girl in front of her until Siyanda stood on her tip toes and pressed her mouth firmly against Thalia’s

Scout’s jaw practically hit the floor, Alex laughed and punched James in the arm saying ‘I told you!’, Piper merely fist bumped Orion, and Enzo cheered loudly.

“See you on the flip side,” Siayanda grinned leaving Thalia to blink in confusion. T’Challa gave his daughter a smug look as the jet ramp began to close.

“An Asgardian! Well, no need for an arranged marriage now, is there?” Siyanda only rolled her eyes and punched her father playfully on the arm.

— — —

The Tower was quiet. Piper grew busier and busier leaving Alex to entertain herself and at last the inevitable happened.

“I’m taking over the family business!” She blurted suddenly. Alex blinked slowly at first before smiling.

“That’s great!”

“No. It means I’m not-well I’m not staying here...” Piper immediately saw her best friend’s expression drop, “I have meetings to go to, conferences, resource management programs to oversee, and more.”

“Well you’ve got to get ready.”

“Alex, I know you’re not the happiest but-well I can call you all the time!” Piper promised.

“Piper, seriously, I’m excited for you. It’s an amazing opportunity. Think of all the things you can design and market now?” Alex insisted, and she meant it.

“I was thinking I could have a design partner.” Piper explained, “do you think it’s weird if I ask Gen?”

“Why would it be weird?”

“Well, there’s school, not to mention a female team is practically unheard of in major STEM research and positions-“ Alex held up a hand cutting her friend off.

“Piper Stark, you be the first one to make an all female team and kick the crap out of misogynistic men. Do it. You’ll have my support.” Piper smiled brightly at her long time friend and hugged her for a solid three minutes.

Alex helped her clean out all of the necessities from her laboratory and load it into a jet. Piper’s first stop was a conference in Japan, a place where she hoped she could heal some old wounds within American-Japan enterprise relationships.

James had to comfort a crying Alex that night. The poor girl really couldn’t fathom what it would be like without Piper constantly under foot. In all honesty even he felt a little sad and he didn’t get along all that well with Piper.

— — —

Nathaniel packed slowly trying to prolong the inevitable. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see his mother, he loved her, but part of his family was there as well.

Scout could feel the older boy’s uncertainty and went to investigate. He hugged Nathaniel gently and was surprised when the archer ran a gentle hand through his hair. “You’re scared, why?”

“My siblings,” Nathaniel admitted nervously. “I don’t know what they’ll think of me. It’s been years since we’ve all been together and dad says they’re all staying over for a week or so.”

“Why would you be scared of what they think about you? Youre amazing.” Scout frowned.

“Because I took up Dad’s mantel, I spent the most time with him, and when Ellie died-“ Nathaniel’s voice cracked, “mom and dad had to take care of me for a while. It’s not a secret the others were jealous.”

“None of that’s your fault.” Scout assured him. “And if they don’t like you screw them. You’re the best big brother ever.”

Nathaniel swallowed tightly and hugged the younger boy close. “Thanks Scouty, that means a lot.”

“Of course. Do you need help organizing? I know you can be a bit scatter brained.” Scout smirked, once more looking like Pietro.

“Yeah, that’d be nice.” Nathaniel nodded.

Nathaniel cried the whole way home like when he was a little boy and had to leave the dog shelter after he finished volunteering. He’d wanted to adopt all of the animals, and in a way he’d adopted all of the kids as his siblings. Clint held his son’s hand the whole drive knowing he needed comfort. Nathaniel always struggled with goodbyes.

— — —

Scout was the next to go. He’d been following the news with his mother and father. His mother’s home was dissolving into ruins. It angered him that people could be so hazardous, that government could be so toxic, and that everyone acted so sad but no one would actually do anything.

“You look angry,” Orion noted from where he sat with his feet propped up on the dinner table as he looked at stupid buzzfeed articles.

“In space do you have governments?” Scout asked sitting across from Orion.

“Yeah, some planets do. Most don’t have a good system. There’s not exactly democracy in outer space,” Orion explained glancing over at the other boy. “Why do you ask?”

“If you had the ability would you help fix it?”

“Of course,” Orion nodded, “there’s too much oppression.”

“Great, I’m not crazy then.” Scout sighed in relief.

“What’s got you so out of sorts?” Orion arched a brow.

“My mother’s home is dissolving into chaos.” Scout went into a three minute explanation and Orion listened through it all.

“Then fix it.”

“What?” Scout stammered in surprise.

“You and your parents have the potential to help. Do it.” Orion spoke firmly. “Don’t be like the others who do nothing.”

“It’s not that easy-“

“My parents are trying to reboot my mother’s home. They’ve asked me to go home with them. To try and complete the goal.” Orion moved so he sat normally with his feet on the floor and elbows on the table. “We want to make a planet without oppression, dictatorship, a place of true peace and prosperity where every people and species can coexist.”

“So-you’re going to space to become a...”

“The face of a new era. The planet’s been renamed Orion after me. One day I’ll be able to oversee everything with a full cabinet of administrators, representatives, and a congressional body.” Orion’s eyes lit up with excitement and Scout realized that Orion was talking about a world he knew nothing of.

Scout knew almost everything there was to do with Earth but he didn’t know space. “I thought you’d be staying.”

“No, I can’t. It’s what I’ve got to do.” Orion set his jaw in firm resolve. “Just like you should help your people.”

Scout spent that night contemplating Orion’s words. He decided that the space boy was right. He couldn’t sit by. Both boys departed on the same day.

“This is a mail translocator. It’s essentially like a space email,” Orion explained placing a cool metal tripod disc into Scout’s palm. “Keep in touch with me. Itll be interesting to see how things go with your quest.”

“I wouldn’t call it a quest,” Scout snorted, tucking the device into his pocket. “But I’ll use it. I’ve realized that I am actually unfamiliar with space despite my scholarly aura. I’d be thankful if you-“

“Told you about it?” Orion asked smugly. “Sure thing. You’ll be totally confused at first but it eventually just clicks.”

“I am Groot!” Scout jumped as the giant tree alien lumbered over to them.

“Yeah I know! I’m going!” Orion laughed as Groot scooped him up. “Don’t forget to space mail me!”

[happyk44]

Prompt: Imagine your OT3/4/5+ (Marauders! :D) as the heirs to the thrones of separate empires. In an attempt to combine these dominions and become much more powerful, the current rulers arrange a polygamous marriage for them. Their marriage turns out to be dysfunctional. They are not obligated to get along or even like each other, but they do eventually figure out how to make the relationship work. Platonic or romantic, feel free to run with this! (Peter centric pov would be nice~) Thanks.

I have some more ideas for this that I probably won’t be getting to anytime soon but essentially a beginning!  This was a lot of fun. Feel free to com me if you’d like more~

Mary’s finger twitched against his, fleeting and brief. Peter grasped her hand hard and winced when she squeezed his. It was reassuring if anything. He exhaled hard.

Then released her hand and tried to bolt in the opposite direction.

“Peter!” Mary chided, locking her arm around his waist and yanking him back so hard he stumbled and almost fell over.

Beside him, his mother was sighing, pinching the bridge of her nose, and his step-father was frowning. He cuffed Peter’s back with his meaty palm. “Relax, Peter.” He tried a smile. “You’ll be fine.”

Peter tried not to wince. He couldn’t even begin to count the ways in which he would not be fine.

Marriage was key to Peter’s duties as a prince. Something he’d only just been whisked into but something he was, nonetheless.

Albanon was faltering. Soldiers vanished during their treks up north. Merchant travelers were straggling in numbers. Crops and common folk dying in vast numbers.

It was a strange phenomenon.

Then the Blacks, ruling far into the east, suddenly proposed a wondrous idea. What if Albanon and Apus merged together through the marriage of their equally-aged sons?

That was also a strange phenomenon.

Apus was known for being secluded, for dabbling on the dangerous sides in trades, in market, in weapons. The family itself was public but very little was known about each of them. The most Peter knew about his possible husband-to-be, Sirius Orion Black, was that he had decent looking hair and a temper to match his lack of patience.

In the middle of negotiations with Apus, two other proposals slid in, the Potters of Pim and the Lupins of Romulus.

The Potters were much more similar to the Blacks. Royal blood into royal blood. Well-known among other kingdoms, though with a better reputation than Apus. Powerful. Weathy beyond their means.

Pim resided close by to Albanon but Peter had never traveled there as visiting royalty. The most he’d witnessed were the streets outside the kingdom when dropping a couple off back to their home when he was thirteen. The outer gate was clean, the citizens healthy and pretty.

He’d been a little shocked by it all but Pim was known for prioritizing citizen care. And it had paid off. The Potters were loved. No one had ever lead a revolt against them. No one from Pim ever tried to kill any of them.

If anything, the citizens were overtly willing to die in their stead. That is, if the Potters, who were just as sacrificing, were willing to let them.

Then there were the Lupins.

The Lupins, ruling far into the south, were an establishment of the more… monstrous community. The family itself had never been particularly grisly but their son had simple run amongst the young crowd in his youth and was bitten by a decrepit werewolf.

The story was widely known. Peter had heard it long before he even knew the kingdom’s or the boy’s name. Remus Lupin of Romulus. Werewolf McWerewolf of Werewolf.

Peter spent a lot of time wondering if Remus knew his entire life was a practical joke.

In the end, it didn’t even matter. All three boys were flocking up to his kingdom to meet with him. Dine, schmooze and select one for marriage after a few weeks.

His choice.

Entirely up to him.

He dug his nails into the palm of his hands. It wouldn’t be a complete surprise if they saw him, decided his opinion in the matter was no longer sanct and fucked off with each other instead.

He’d seen their pictures around as he grown up. James Potter with his pretty brown skin and wild hair. Sirius Black with his glorious dark eyes and curled smile. Even Remus was bloody perfect, despite the ripped and scarred skin and the quiet look about him.

And Peter? He was plain. Unassuming. An average man in the crowds.

Boring.

And what did he really offer in the long run? He wasn’t royalty by blood, he wasn’t particularly attractive, he knew basic magic at best and was having the worst go of it attempting to learn more. He’d been raised poor as poor could be. Didn’t have a clue at where he stood in the whole grand scheme of the universe.

It was a miracle he hadn’t been disowned by his step-father yet.

Though apparently, according to Mary, the true royal family found his and his mother’s faults to be charming. Which made sense as far as his mother went. Forty years carving wooden and stone trinkets for the bare minimum didn’t exactly a regal woman make.

But, sooner or later, they’d expect Peter, who’d only lived in poverty for fourteen years, to live up to expectations and when he failed, and he would, they’d be just as disappointed as his father was with him.

“Deep breaths,” Mary murmured at his side. “They’ll like you.”

“Doubtful,” he muttered back.

What did Mary know about men? She was a bloody lesbian!

She swatted his wrist playfully like she knew what he was thinking.

“They’ll like you,” she whispered again. “I know they will.”

Peter frowned, about ready to retort again when the doors in front of him creaked. His mother started. Swiftly his step-father pulled her back to his side. She flushed rapidly and ducked into his side, laughing small apologies gently.

Some things were still ingrained into her.

Same with Peter.

He winced and tried to derail his thoughts from his faults as the doors opened wider, streaming in sunlight and three perfectly pretty boys. Three gorgeous boys. Deathly beautiful.

Out-of-his-league perfect.

James was the first to cross the stead, his parents slipping in soft behind him. His long legs carried him through his even longer strides. Peter’s step-father clapped his back gently, pushing him down the steps. In front of him and off to the left, James’s parents had paused along with the others.

Peter swallowed thickly and caught James’s hand in his. He smelled nice. Like thick oak.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Peter,” James said. He grinned cheeky. “I hope I live up to expectations.”

Peter stared at him for a second and half, his heart hammering in chest like a madman. Then he blinked rapidly and shook James’s

“Doubtful,” quietly drawled a voice behind them, so low it was unlikely the other figures in the room would’ve heard it. Unlike James, Sirius didn’t take Peter’s outstretched hand but bowed halfway to ground. As he pulled back up, slow and graceful, he looked Peter over from under his lashes.

“It’s wonderful to finally meet you,” Sirius said as he shifted his way between Peter and James. His hand curved feather-soft over Peter’s jaw. “You’re just as pretty as your pictures.”

Peter’s traitorous heart almost snapped in two. 

At the back of his throat, he made a vague noise and patted Sirius’s hand, pretending like he wasn’t turning as red as a cherry and frantically searching for something else to stare at that wasn’t Sirius’s sharp and pretty face.

Remus slid into view. He’d walked slow, a slight limp accompanying his left leg. As Sirius stepped back, Remus took Peter’s hand and squeezed his soft. His smile crinkled up the edges of his eyes. “I’m not the best with fancy phrases but it is very nice to meet you, Peter.”

Very gently, he pressed a soft kiss to the edge of Peter’s hand then stepped away back to the others as they all turned to address the king.

Peter’s heart panged as he dropped his hand to his side and turned around. He dug his nails deep into his skin.

Oh, he was so fucked.

Fun fact: Apus is a constellation. Wanted to keep with the Black tradition~ :P

AO3 || Tip the writer! || Store || Commission Info

[hpgal-with-httydpals-blog]

Imperatore et Lupum (pt. 1)

aka @asktheboywholived‘s The Empire AU, with a few minor tweaks to make it more of my style. I really hope google translate didn’t fail me on the Latin.

In the age of Ancient Rome, there was a royal family, who’s records were lost to historians, and who’s story was never told. Even if it were to be found, the modern day person might have assumed it to be myth, or folk lore, as the family had ruled over the age of Rome that held the most magic of all. It was also the darkest.

They were known as the Black’s, a family so powerful, they were deemed as Gods to the common people, and were considered untouchable.

All, except the young heir, Sirius Orion Black. 

He would be of age in a year, and would soon take the throne. All of this would be fine and dandy, if the boy had already found a wife.

As the family walked in parade with the elite’s on their way to the grand Colosseum for a gruesome show, he and his passionate mother had a whispered, though aggressive conversation on his bachelorhood.

“You’ve met every girl who’s worthy of the throne, not only in the city, but in the whole region!”

“Perhaps the woman I seek is not apart of the elites.” Sirius responded smugly to his mother’s bereavement.

“I would rather die than see you married to an unworthy, commoner.” The Empress hissed.

Sirius chuckled humorlessly, and thankfully the rest of their walk was held in silence. 

The show they were on their way to see, was mostly a show for those participating in it. In the last week their had been an uprising in a community of creatures known as Beasts. The Beasts look identical to other townsfolk during the daytime, but once a month on the full moon, their true nature was shown in full. They were also known to be particularly aggressive during other time of the month as well, in fact, it took most of the standing Roman army to combat them.

Typically, Beasts were used as slaves, or weapons. In fact, Sirius knew of many Beasts who worked both in the palace, and in the fields that grew the families own personal food - untouchable to the public.

The pack of Beasts had been thriving just under the noses of the the Emperor, and had managed to start a full scale takeover of the city. However it seemed insignificant, as the army had massacred over half of their already small population. The survivors were meant to battle to the death in the arena, overlooked by the elites and the royal family, so that they knew their place even as they were slaughtered.

Sirius had found this a rather cruel fate, as he had been silently cheering the Beasts on. The Gods only knew had badly he wanted to see the end of his parents reign. Sirius saw how cruelly they treated their own people, and while he wanted to help them, he had no interest in becoming Emperor.

He had no interest in watching the bloodshed either. Sirius had spent his entire life in the palace, where on more than one occasion he saw slave being whipped, or simply saw them being dragged away, kicking and screaming, towards the Colosseum, or to some other cruel form of death.

Not to mention, what his own family did to one another when no one was looking.

They entered the grand arena, and were immediately greeted by a man Sirius knew to be Fenrir Greyback. He was a Beast as well, but he had long ago made an alliance with the royal family, and had lead the army against his own kind himself.

“Good morrow, Your Majesties.” He said with a toothy grin that made Sirius shudder in both horror and disgust.  “I’m sure this will be a fine show.”

“How many are there?” His deranged cousin Bellatrix asked with an obvious tone of joy.

“Twelve. All had been close in the pack. Now we watch them fight to the death.” Fenrir said, a taunting laughter was evident in his voice. Bellatrix let out her own bark of twisted laughter, and that was all Sirius really processed before he started zoning out the world around him.

The royal family took their seats in their box, waiting for the show to begin. Sirius wanted to be anywhere but where he was. He hated these public displays of murder a backstabbing. The thought that some of the elite brought their young children to these events made him sick. He knew that for the next few weeks, he would have nightmares of the arena, the tigers and lions that came from who-knows-where, the gladiators and the beasts who mercilessly beat already dead bodies just to make sure they would still get out of there alive. The blood that splattered the floor, the walls, and the warriors themselves.

Before long, Sirius noticed the tall, almost regal looking man who was being lead to the center of the arena, hands tied behind his back, by a guard who wore a uniform that covered their whole body, so that no one would notice their true identity.The heir of Rome knew who this was. The leader of the group, who was going to be made a public example of. Sirius hoped that since the man had some rank, the execution would not be so brutal.

He was sorely mistaken.It was the longest, bloodiest, most painful looking execution Sirius had ever seen in the arena, and that’s saying something. The man was repeatedly stabbed until no inch of his body was left unbloodied except his head, before that too was walloped off with one stroke of the guards sword.

Sirius grimaced, he closed his eyes but that did not block out the sounds, and if he covered his ears it would be too noticeable, and his family would ridicule him for months, and inevitably force him to go watch more of these events.Instead, Sirius thought it best to try and concentrate on other matters.

He turned to look at his mother, who had her eyes locked on the arena, he expression calm as she slowly fanned herself with the ornate, lacy hand fan his cousin Narcissa had gifted her with just hours before.

“Mother,” he started softly so that no one else heard. “I’d like to make a deal with you.”

The Empress turned to face him. “Oh? And what might that be?”

“I’ll let you pick who I marry, so long as I am allowed to have affairs of my own.”

His mother narrowed his eyes. “You want me to turn a blind eye on your disloyalty?

“It wouldn’t be disloyalty if she knows I’m doing it,” Sirius insisted casually. “Besides, I wouldn’t mind if my future wife had her own affairs.”

She seemed to ponder this. “If I let you do this, you must produce an heir and carry on the reign of Black.”

“Of course.”

“Then it’s a deal.”

Just then, gongs rang throughout the stadium, and the gates that lined the arena slowly raised open to reveal the chained Beasts.

 The fight to the death had begun.

Remus was in chains. As one of the few Beasts who survived their failed revolution, he found himself prepared to face his death at the hands of his allies.

The chamber was dark. The only light came from a tiny eye flap, which had been opened so that he could see his leader, the only father he ever remembered, one of the few people he still respected, brutally executed.

Remus had never felt so scared before. He prided himself in being extremely brave, but the prospect of having to fight the vary people who had practically raised him, until they were all but one dead? That terrified him. After Romulus’s death, Remus found himself freed from the chains, but not the chamber. He didn’t remember anyone coming into unfasten the shackles, nor did he remember them even simply falling away. But then, he heard the mighty ring of gongs echo loudly through his small, temporary room, and the gate in front of him began to open. He was pushed by an unseen force into the arena, and the gates slammed shut again. He looked around. He recognized all the remaining survivors. The woman who watched over the little one’s while their parents trained, the man who had taught him how to fight, the man who did the night watch, the woman who had beat him once during training. Out of all of them, he was at the most disadvantage. He was the youngest. but Remus doomed himself to his fate already. One of these people whom he had once loved, would become his murderer. He told himself that he would only fight in defense. He thought all of this in the span of two seconds, because before he knew it, they were charging at each other, and the killing had begun. The rest of his time in the arena was a blur. He defended himself when he needed to, at one point killing one of the men. He vaguely recognized a feeling of disgust welling up in his chest. Remus had hoped that they had all thought like him, that they all were wary of killing each other just for the entertainment of the Roman public. But instead they had fallen for the bait, they were killing each other, scratching each other, ripping each other apart with their own hands. They kicked up so much dirt and dust that he couldn’t see two feet in front of him. They were becoming the animals they had fought to show the world they weren’t all of their time together had fallen to pieces right before Remus’s eyes. Then, when the dirt and haze cleared, he realized that nine out of the twelve were dead. How long did it take? Only thirty minutes? An hour? Two at most, though Remus knew in his heart it didn’t even take that long. He watched the other two fight, tired out, weakly wrestling each other. One of their hands tightly around the other’s throat and then - Blood splattered the arena floor, and Remus’s face. He blinked, wiping away the blood to see that the other two were skewered together with a spear. They fell to the ground dead. Remus turned to see who had thrown the spear. His face hardened. Fenrir Greyback.

Remus felt hot anger well up in his chest. This man was just like the rest of them. He had come into their pack saying he wanted to join their cause, but really only wanted to destroy them all for the Royal family of Rome. Remus had suspected him from the beginning, and yet he had been too late to act -

Greyback turned to face the royal box, bowing before he spoke loudly so the entire Colosseum could hear.

“I’m sparing this one.”

Sirius admired the Beast who did not engage of any of the fighting. He kept his eyes on him, hoping that his inevitable death would be less painless than the ones happening all around him. Sirius liked that the boy still had his dignity.

Although Sirius was hoping he would come out on top, he doubted the young man would make it to the end of the fight. His defensive skills were a sight to be seen, but if he attacked no one, he would never win.

When there were only three Beasts remaining, they sent Fenrir to finish them off. Sirius felt a pang of pity and the boy he’d been watching watched the other two battle it out, his face an expression of shock and horror, which doubled when they were both speared through the middle.

When Fenrir turned to kill the last of the Beasts, he did something that surprised them all thoroughly.

“I’m sparing this one.”

It wasn’t like Fenrir to give up the chance to kill anyone. Though some part of Sirius was happy the boy would live, there was a spark of fear that flared up in him when he caught a glimpse of his mother’s face. She was livid.

She stood, and looked as though she was going to shout back at Fenrir to finish the boy off, but Sirius stopped her.

He didn’t know what compelled him to do it, but he grabbed her by the skirt of her dress and whispered privately to her.

“I choose him.”

She stared at him for a moment, then turned back to Fenrir in the arena.

“Take the survivor to the palace. He’s to become a slave for my son.”

[beauty-and-the-behemoth]

“If The Stars Could Speak”

Back with another ^^ Needed some Ignoct in my life ugh <3  Please note that the selected constellation history prompt meanings were deciphered based on my own perception of what each mentioned story meant. I read a hand full of different tellings around each story and came up with my conclusions. Soooo this one is kind of special! I hope you all enjoy!  Art- Pomiko

A clear night sky greeted Ignis as he stood on one of the highest balconies of The Palace. It was a spot he frequented quite often when he needed a bit of mental release from his duties. Even as a child, he found himself wandering up to these heights to stare at not only the city below, but the vast canvas of stars that dotted the skies above.

The Stars.

‘Little lights of mystery’ He thought. Twinkling with all their might and admired by so many. Much like King Regis and the Lucis family whom he held a great deal of respect for. Much like a certain heir to the throne who he fancied more than he cared to admit.

Noctis. 

His name alone lit a small fire in his chest.

Ignis couldn’t exactly remember when he started developing feelings for the prince and for a while he helplessly denied them.

‘For the sake of the prince and my sanity, I couldn’t possibly let something like this come to the light.’ It hurt to hold it in, but the choice wasn’t his. His duty was to protect Noct at all costs, even if it meant emotionally. His job description didn’t include some “silly fixation” and with that it had to remain hidden.

Ignis’s eyes scanned over the sky a few more times before he let out a dismal sigh, his heart involuntarily beginning to ache.

“Specs?”

The familiar voice startled the strategist from his deep thoughts as he craned his neck to see his unexpected guest; making it a priority to mask the bit of excitement he was feeling upon Noct moving to stand beside him.

“Your highness, what are you doing up at this hour? Let alone up here. Aren’t you supposed to be in bed?” Ignis had turned back to face the city skyline as he subliminally fought to hold his composure upon seeing Noct in his disheveled night clothes. Noct simply shrugged as he followed suite now leaning over the railing of the balcony; tussled hair moving gently in the night breeze.

“I couldn’t sleep, Sooo I decided to roam around a bit” Ignis simply nodded and turned his attention up towards the sky once more. Silence fell between the two.

‘I want to tell him’ He thought. ‘I need to’ the words wanting to burst forth from his throat. ‘It could go completely wrong or…completely right’ Ignis shook his head trying to push the urges from his mind.

“You okay there, Iggy?” Noct looked at his friend curiously. He hadn’t noticed until now the soft shade of pink high lighting on Ignis’s cheeks beneath his glass. Ignis stayed quiet at a loss of words before Noct spoke once more.

“Do you remember, Ignis, how you’d take me out to the country side when we were younger and we would look at the stars through your telescope?” Ignis gave a lighthearted chuckle, his soft green eyes still trained on the various little lights above.

“How could I forget? To be honest, I couldn’t tell if you were even the slightest bit interested but I kept taking you. Simply because I knew you enjoyed the time away from the palace. You smiled more back then…” Ignis trailed off a bit stopping himself before he slipped up; his internal demons doing backflips.

“Well…could you remind me of a few things you taught me? I remember you liking those star picture things…?” Noct scratched his head in an attempt to remember the name of the figures only to sigh heavily in defeat. He sucked his teeth “I got nothin’”

Ignis snickered as he glanced at the prince who too was now staring up at the sky.

“Constellations, your highness”

“Yea! Those things” Noct snapped his fingers and pointed upward.

“Tell me about em’, Specs”

With a small smile, Ignis nodded; his attention now back toward the stars above.

“The stars, namely Constellations, tell a story. All the pictures we see were images carved out during various eras in history; namely Greek and Roman times. All of the stories differ; however, it is left up to us to decipher what they could possibly mean.”  

As Ignis went on, Noct could tell he was in his glory. He remembers far back how much his advisor loved anything that had to do with astronomy. Any chance he got; he could find Ignis outside simply gazing up towards the sky; day or night, or buried nose deep in a book. Noct found out about his “secret” place in the palace around the time they were in High School. Noct had gone off to find him one day and found Ignis lying on the ground of the balcony completely lost in the splendor of night sky. Naturally the prince never told him he new of his place but did sneak to watch his friend on occasion.

“That one there-“ Ignis pointed “-is the constellation, Orion. His many retellings mention that of a great hunter. He exuded strength and bravery. His story, in my eyes, teaches us to be strong in our endeavors but also remain smart. It is also one of the more well known star systems” Ignis smiled a bit. Simply speaking of a study he enjoyed had him on cloud nine.

Noctis stared intently up towards the night sky; mentally making note of the 3 stars that made up Orion’s Belt.

Ignis had gone on to speak and show a few more star formations that he personally loved. Giving Noct a vast amount of information gave him hope that he was actually enjoying their time as much as he was. Ignis stopped for a moment before mentioning the next.

“Ahem…that one over there -“ Ignis pointed “-is the constellation, Lyra; Latin for Lyre or Harp. When Orpheus played the Lyre, it brought great ease to its listeners. Now I won’t get too deep into the story as not to bore you, but upon Orpheus’s wife’s passing, he was made to play the Lyre to retrieve her soul from Hades under the condition that he places his trust in him. In the end, his trust wavered and she was lost forever…”

Ignis fell silent again to glance at his friend whom was now looking at him.

“And…what does that story mean to you, Iggy?” Noctis had tilted his head waiting for a response; his crystal blue eyes boring into Ignis’s green ones. Ignis could feel the heat on his cheeks forming once again as he quickly averted his gaze back toward the stars.

“Well…the story teaches one the importance of trust, and determination…” he paused, one hand clenched tight at his side. “And the power of love…” Ignis trailed off; the last word slipping from his lips at no more than a whisper. The presence of Noct next to him felt heavy but Ignis stayed grounded; that is until the feeling of fingers intertwining through his own free hand made his heart leap into his throat.

“Your Highness…?” He peered at the prince over his glasses trying desperately to make sense of this sudden closeness, however, Noct never looked away. ‘Was this a dream?’ Ignis thought. Surely he was back in bed fast asleep and none of this was real; but yet here he stood.

“I like the sound of that, Iggy” Noct’s grip on Ignis’s hand tightened followed by a big grin. But there was something genuine in that smile that made Ignis’s heart speed up into overdrive.

“Let’s do this more often, I’m getting sleepy again” Noct stifled a yawn as he began to walk back towards the balcony entrance pulling an all too gleeful Ignis behind him.

“Yes, your highness…”

 Perhaps he wouldn’t have to hide anything after all.

[thephoenixfields]

Session 10: Open Fire

 « SESSION 9 RECAP

“Well,” Fen tries, “we’re kind of here to help rescue your dad.”

Esther perks up when Fen mentions Dimitry, but is wary about any ulterior motivations. “Did someone...did someone send you to find me?” she asks delicately.

Fen doesn’t know what to say for a moment, then admits that Selene told the party to look for her. “But we don’t have to tell her that you’re here,” Fen hedges, seeing how the expression on Esther’s face drops from semi-hopeful to totally shuttered.

Meanwhile, Aeleyn and Rowan have departed for the temple of Pelor. Rowan is nervous about her part in the group’s plan to save Dimitry. The spell she must perform, Feign Death, is a necromantic spell. The last time she tried necromancy was in her battle against Harami, and she nearly lost her connection to Pelor because of it. Rowan decides she needs Pelor’s blessing in order to continue with the plan. Aeleyn, emotionally indebted to Rowan for helping her discover information about the Grey Army, tags along and continues her role as bodyguard.

Rowan prays to Pelor, appealing to his ideals of justice: that Dimitry is a good man who committed no crime at all, and that this spell, although grounded in death magic, will right things the way they ought to be. Ultimately, Pelor sends Rowan a vision.

Rowan sits in the shade of a large tree that grows at the center of a beautiful meadow. In front of her stands a man, his face so bright and shining that she cannot discern any features, just the bright rays of the sun. “Pelor?” she asks. The figure nods, and gives her his hand. He brings her up to stand, and Rowan comes to realize that she has his approval to do what she must to bring Dimitry justice.

Pelor looks out and Rowan follows his gaze. She spots a leg obscured by the thick trunk of the tree, hidden by shade. She peers around and sees a man she does not recognize by face. He appears dead. The sun touches no part of his body.

Rowan reaches out to grasp his hand—and then she comes back to her body in the temple of Pelor, communion broken.

Fen brings Esther in to meet the members of the group still in the Raven Queen’s temple—at this point it’s just Julian and Nemo with Lysander in the back room. Fen introduces Esther and Julian promptly runs outside to grab Sariel, who did not feel comfortable enough to enter the temple in the first place. “You have to see this,” he tells her, motioning her inside.

Sariel, wary of a goddess whose pantheon she does not worship, carefully takes her first few steps inside the obsidian temple. Her feelings of wariness don’t exactly go away as she enters the temple, and she leaves Mazrim to guard the door before walking deeper inside.

The split party confronts Esther about how she escaped. “My father opened a door in the castle wall,” she explains. “There’s a tunnel that connects Lower Soraya to the Royal Castle. I took it after my mother was murdered.”

Sariel is the one to put forth the idea of getting Esther on the throne. She asks about Karver, about what he was like before he became king. “He was a cocky young man, but never showed any murderous ambition,” Esther explains. “He was the Sorayan royal ambassador. That’s why he was away from the city for so long. He spent five years traveling Valadris, going from city to city. Bellemar, Ostax, even Gilead.”

Sariel prods further. “Does he seem...different, now? Now that he has her,” she nearly spits, referencing the Lady Salome Lessard.

“He certainly is more power hungry,” Esther muses. “But I don’t know if that’s because of her or because of something else entirely. You see, I think Karver might have been content to wait it out, I suppose. My mother had no true heirs. He would have inherited the kingdom eventually.” Esther looks to Fen before continuing. “I asked if someone had sent you after me, and you told me about your association with Selene.” Esther looks off into the middle distance, clearly lost in her own memories. “We were close, growing up. Selene trained under my father as part of the royal guard, and I was a ward of the court with few other peers around my age. She was friendly when I needed a friend. For years, she was the person I would turn to. The person I would tell everything: crushes on the guards, courtly gossip. But the secret of my parentage was just that: a secret. I told no one about who my mother was.” Esther takes a deep breath. “Not until I told Selene.”

A rueful smile comes across Esther’s face. “Selene was excited when I confided in her that was a bastard princess. She told me I’d make a great queen someday, even though I told her that was not my desire. I don’t want the throne, I never have,” Esther explains. “But Selene had plans. So she approached the small council on her own. A small council that consisted of my mother, Grand Vizier Graeme, and Karver himself.” Esther’s hands ball into fists. “She pled with the council to change the line of succession. She outed my existence to Karver.” Her knuckles turn white in fury. “My mother was dead within the week.”

The group is horrified. Sariel in particular, who told her semi-ward Gaer to listen to Selene and do what she tells him to do, makes a mental note to update him when she gets a chance.

Esther requests that the party brings Selene to the temple. “She’s been looking for me, hasn’t she? It’s time we talked.”

Nemo volunteers and Sariel has Mazrim tag along. He stealths out into the night and with no trouble at all gets past the iron golem at the Trident in the center of Lower Soraya. Soon enough, he gets to the Silver Jackal, where Selene and Orion are planning together in the war room. Nemo tells Selene that they found Esther and Selene is already out the door by the time Nemo finishes the end of his sentence. Orion follows, hobbling a little after his beatdown the other day, but the three of them make their way back through Lower Soraya toward the Trident and the iron golem.

Orion, Mazrim, and Nemo manage to stealth past the golem easily, but Selene trips and manages to catch the golem’s eye. Nemo casts darkness and they all bolt back through the Trident towards Grace Court and the Raven Queen’s temple.

Selene walks into the temple, and Esther is there to meet her. The look on Selene’s face is ecstatic, hopeful, as happy as the party has ever seen her. Esther’s face is quite the opposite: cold, calm, and contained.

That is, until she starts to speak.

“Esther—”

“You killed my mother,” Esther accuses harshly, cutting Selene off. “We could have lived out our days and been happy. But you—you’ve always wanted power. I’ve never wanted any of it! I’m not a queen. I’m barely a princess. I don’t want this life you’ve dreamed up. I’m not a leader of men.” She spits at Selene’s feet. “I’m not you.”

In that moment, everything Selene’s dreamed up: the rebellion, the alliance with Dania, it all comes crashing down. She has to go in the corner to puke. It is perhaps the first moment of weakness the party has ever seen from Selene.

“We still have an execution to stop,” Orion says weakly. “Or do you hate Dimitry as well?”

“Dimitry sacrificed everything for me. Of course I love him,” Esther says fiercely.

The group turns their back on Selene and subsequently Orion, who turns slightly vicious against the world in his attempt to save Selene from the wrath she has incurred.

Sariel approaches Esther. “You don’t want the throne,” Sariel starts. “But royalty is in your blood. Don’t you think you owe it to the city to take it back from the horrible people in power now? People are dying, being turned into terrible things. They deserve a ruler they can rely on, not one who will slaughter them in the streets.” Esther, musing, decides she will sleep on her decision.

A long rest is had by all. Selene and Orion sleep out in the atrium, licking their wounds, both physical and metaphorical. The rest of the party (beside Aeleyn and Rowan) sleeps in the disciple barracks within the temple. Mathilde, for part, is absolutely sleeping outside in a tree.

Fen sneaks out during the night, becoming a cat and running out of the temple. Aeleyn spots her and manages to follow her out to the edge of Grace Court before Fen disappears into the night.

Fen travels by rooftop alone in cat form to Cliffside Heights and manages to sneak inside the royal temple. Inside, she can see up close the massive chains that hang from the ceiling, as well as a large spiral symbol at the front of the temple where the altar should be—a symbol to Tharizdun, according to Lysander. In addition, Fen senses death magic sewn into the temple floor, a similar death magic to the aura Fen felt down in the royal prison. Fen sneaks back to the temple after snooping around, noting that the temple does not appear used by many people, if at all.

The next day, Selene suggests collecting supplies from the Silver Jackal in case the execution turns into an all out brawl. The party agrees, and together, they trek across Lower Soraya, leaving Lysander and Esther to themselves in the Raven Queen temple. Rowan and Aeleyn join up with them. 

Aeleyn, perceptive as ever, asks Fen how she knew what Esther looked like. Fen, not keen on sharing her prophetic visions, attempts to lie and fails miserably. Aeleyn calls her out on it and Fen promises to tell her later.

Mathilde tags along, attempting to stealth as best she can.

Through a pretty good perception check, Sariel can taste ash on the air as they approach Downtown Soraya. The group takes off at a sprint to find the Silver Jackal in flames. Nemo, Aeleyn, and Rowan run inside and free members of the Hand of Liberty from the lower floor (the trapdoor has welded itself shut due to the heat). Julian uses his Boots of Ascending to climb up to the second floor and search the bedrooms of the inn. He finds an unconscious Gaer and feeds him a potion, bringing him back. Julian also finds a hurting, unconscious potions master, James, and struggles pretty hard to pull him to safety. Fen joins Julian and tries to pull James to safety, but accidentally (nat 1, yo) pulls him into the fire. Fen heals James and finally the top floor is cleared of all injured. Mathilde drags the two halflings she made friends with out from the tavern floor, saving them.

Outside, things are a little dicier. The iron golem, which seems to have lit the place on fire in the first place, is calling out to arrest Selene and Orion. The party attacks the golem, and nearly gets TPK’d. In addition, Sariel looks out into the distance and sees a second iron golem approaching. Rowan, deciding to heal the injured instead of fighting, remains at the scene with Aeleyn. As far as the rest of the group, they choose to run back to the Raven Queen’s temple and cut their losses.

Rowan and Aeleyn take their time walking back to the Raven Queen’s temple, and as they pass the trident, Rowan notices the statue there blink its eyes open and stare blankly at her: like someone is watching them through the eyes of the inanimate object.

A scry spell.

“What the fuck,” Lysander says as the group, bloodied and half-dead, comes rolling up on his doorstep.

“Heal them,” Sariel commands, pushing Fen and Julian forward. “Please.”

“What the fuck,” Lysander repeats, reaching out to cure the wounded.

SESSION 11 RECAP »

[thelordofthepenblog-blog]

Lorogos

The state dinner was a formal affair, filled with the sound of quiet chatter and the clinking of china. The dining room was long, with two long tables lining either viewport that looked out upon the world below. Above them was a dais, upon which dined the king, queen, and their daughters. Few dared glance at them, for rumors abounded of the royal family’s capricious and offended manner. They were but nobility, after all, and easily replaceable as far as the family was concerned – many of them had heirs. Malleable heirs, to suit the family’s desires. For the good of the realm, of course.

The king belched, and all noise quieted for a moment as the sound echoed through the hall. It was a long moment before the nobility would pick up their utensils and resume, the tension palpable. Antasia glanced to her side, watching as her father chuckled and wiped himself with a napkin. He murmured something to his wife, too low for her to catch, and her mother rewarded him with a cold smile. He laughed at that too.

Antasia quietly rolled her eyes and looked back at her food, roasted ithrii quail covered in sauce. A delicacy to most, but Antasia’s stomach roiled at the thought. How many below starved while her parents threw feasts for the rich? Famine had come to the continent of Hrul for the past year, and its people were looking at a harsh winter without help. Once again, she dared a glance at them, seated at a table slightly more elevated than that of her and her sister’s. Her mother was regarding the gathered nobility with a critical blue eye, as ever, while her father was ordering a servant to pour him another glass. Her older sister, seated on the other end of the table, barely reacted to any of this. In fact, if the slight glassiness of her eyes was any indication, Frehlia had already doped herself up for the night. The rest of the universe had become extraneous; all that mattered was her own little world.

It hadn’t always been like this, Antasia knew. She remembered, very dimly, that her parents had been much warmer, that her sister’s smiles hadn’t been because of the drugs. They were more loving of their people. Her mother sang sometimes, to lift both her and their people’s spirits when times were tough.

Then a war happened – her uncle had tried to seize the throne in a vicious, bloody coup she and Frehlia had barely survived. When the assassinations had failed, the world of Lorogos had been plunged into a bloody civil war that raged until Antasia was a teenager. Her uncle had been executed, his family either imprisoned or exiled, and numerous trade sanctions had been imposed by the other galactic powers, ones vastly more powerful than anything Lorogos could drum up. Her father bitterly claimed that it was a curse from his brother, that his political allies in the other powers were punishing the royal family for winning the war. Antasia knew the reality: trade had been disrupted when Lorogos warships seized any vessels that passed through their territory and took anything they deemed valuable, up to and including the crews and ships themselves sometimes. And since Lorogos sat on the Greater Ooro Trade Route, this had caused much strife and disruption in the wider galaxy.

Her parents, of course, did not seem concerned by this. All they saw was another injustice heaped upon them in the aftermath of a devastating war. Many of the speeches her father gave in the first few years following the conflict were tirades against the likes of the Imperium and the Alliance, accusing them of colluding with former Lorogosian rebels and trying to instigate the fall of the royal family for their own purposes. It had been then that Antasia realized the level of her family’s fall, of how mad and disturbed they’d become after years of running and hiding from assassins and the ongoing conflict.

Antasia jolted from her thoughts at the sound of her father clearing his throat. She looked up and saw him rising to his feet, only slightly unsteady from wine. He cleared his throat again, and everyone and everything in the dining hall stopped. Froze, like a sheet of ice had claimed all of them. The princess glanced at her father, his massive, corpulent form and his shock of red hair. He didn’t look so much like a king as a despot mocking his subjects, between his rimrod posture, his unforgiving smirk. “Friends,” he began, his voice booming across the hall. Antasia knew it wasn’t just his voice creating that effect; speakers had been cleverly concealed in the walls during construction, and a transmitter implanted into her father’s cheek transmitted his voice to them. “You may be wondering why I’ve called you all here tonight to our humble palace.

Humble? Hardly. Though initially they’d resided on neutral ground, after the war her father had taken one of the orbital habitats, evicted its original residents, and had the entire construct converted into a single, massive structure. It had taken over a decade, and the lives of more than a few laborers, to complete. Her father claimed it was for security, as few dissenters would likely be able to breach the defenses and enter the palace. Antasia wondered if it was really done as a power move, to remind everyone who was truly in charge.

“I have called you all here to discuss a most grievous attack on our people. As you all know, the continent of Hrul suffered a plague this past year, one that murdered much of their livestock and crop. They have little enough to last them through the coming winter. Many will likely starve and die without assistance.” Antasia looked at her father, surprised. Was he truly acknowledging this crisis? Normally he and her mother brushed such incidents under the rug and never spoke of them again. That he would openly speak of Hrul’s plague was something he hadn’t done since the war. From the stunned gazes on many people’s faces, she wasn’t alone in her surprise.

But her heart fell as he continued speaking. “I have procured reliable evidence that this was not a natural plague. Rather, this was an experiment by the Orion Alliance, to test a new strain of virus for biological warfare.” He paused to let his words sink in. Worried and bewildered glances were shared between the nobles. Antasia could almost hear their thoughts, for they were much her own: Could this be true? Could the Alliance do such a thing? If so, what does this mean for us?

Her father slammed his fist on the table, causing the china to shake and everyone to look on him once again. “This is a clear act of war! To perform such a blatant attack on our people, when already their sanctions drain our economy, our resources? I will not sit still for this! I will not!”

More than a few nobles were nodding along with him, but many had more sense and seemed worried. Antasia was as concerned; if her father declared war, it would likely collapse their economy more than the sanctions ever could. With Hrul in the middle of a crisis and food shortages across the planet, Lorogos would never last in such a conflict. And against the Alliance? One of the most powerful polities in the galaxy? Surely her father was mad to even imply such a thing!

But, to her sadness, her father’s eyes were as sane as they’d ever been. And her mother looked at him with pride, nodding along with everything he was saying. Frehlia seemed even more withdrawn than she’d been several minutes before. It wouldn’t be long before she disassociated herself from the universe entirely, and would need to be carried back to her quarters. In a way, Antasia envied her.

“I have spoken to my advisers, and they all agree,” the king continued. “Blood for blood. We cannot allow the Alliance to get away with this. They’ve run roughshod over us enough for the past eighteen years. They’ve been eyeing our world greedily for generations, wanting to assimilate us into their Pact.” He spat the word like poison, glaring at no one and everyone. “That is why I am issuing the Call to Arms.” Silence fell over the hall. Antasia glanced at them only for a moment before staring wide-eyed at her father. Dread clawed at her heart. The Call to Arms was the prelude to the Declaration of Action, which itself was a prelude to the Act of War. All able-bodied men and women were to be conscripted into the Lorogos military, trained, and then sent to battle. The Call had been rarely ever used, for normally the Royal Navy and the Soldiers of Lorogos were enough to protect them, even during the civil war.

She desperately wanted to speak out, to call her father a fool. But she held her tongue. She knew that he would not be forgiving to her anymore than he’d be to a noble who spoke out of turn. Surely this was some nightmare?

“All of you are to call upon your retainers, your peasants and your militias. Tell them of my declaration. Tell them of the crimes. Tell them we will not submit quietly to the Alliance. We will fight for every inch of our solar system! They will not conquer us! They will not!” He seemed to expect applause at that, but nobody said a word. Nodding, he sat back down, returning to his meal. His wife patted him on the arm, then did the same. Frehlia was still staring at the same bean she’d been gazing at for the past two minutes.

And still, not a word was uttered. After all, the state dinner was a formal affair, filled with the sound of the clinking of china.

Seeing as I’ve hit a wall in writing my Heroes oneshots, I’ve taken to writing original works until something happens in the game that sparks my creativity

[the-most-slytherin-hufflepuff]

Open your eyes (Prologue)

This story started out as a Merlin AU with the SW character and then went completely off the rails. I hope you enjoy it. Credit for the charsacters goes to @lumosinlove. 

@waltzintherain @clearsuitcasecookienerd hope this lives up to your expectations <3. 

Masterlist

Remus stood in shock, staring at the center of the square as the crowd thinned around him. The king had just killed someone, and these people were acting like nothing happened. He shook his head, as if to dislodge the image of the axe falling down from his mind. He knew that the laws on sorcery were nothing short of ridiculous in the kingdom of Slytherin, but he hadn’t expected to find himself witnessing an execution less than an hour into arriving. 

He walked towards one of the guards nearest to him. “Hey”, he tried to sound like he hadn’t just witnessed one of his own get murdered, “do you know where I can find the physician's chambers?”

The guard pointed to the entrance to his left, “up those steps, it's the first door to your left.”

“Thank you.” 

Remus went up the steps, trying to forget the execution he had just witnessed. He stopped in front of the door and took a deep breath. He reminded himself that Minerva was his mother’s friend, she knew about everything, it would be fine. 

He pushed the door open, only to discover an empty room, well not empty, the room was filled with herbs and vials and medicine, but there was no one there. He walked in, hovering awkwardly in between a table and the patient cot. 

He heard footsteps approach from outside before someone opened the door. “Hey Minnie do you- oh hi”. 

Remus blinked slowly when he saw the newcomer. He was tall with broad shoulders, black hair and sharp grey eyes. It took Remus a second to remember he was supposed to answer. “Hi” 

“You’re not Minnie”, the stranger said, confused.

“Astute observation”, Remus retorted, tone dripping with sarcasm.  

The stranger blinked at him, mouth slightly open in what appeared to be shock. “You can’t talk to me like that”, he said after shaking off his confusion. 

“Oh, really”, Remus said, “and, do tell, why not”. 

“Because.” 

“Saying because and pointing at yourself isn’t an answer.” Remus sounded amused. 

“I could have you thrown in the dungeons for that”. The other man didn’t sound offended, more teasing than anything else. 

Remus cocked an eyebrow at him. Stood in front of him was who he now recognized as Slytherin’s prince and heir to the throne. He had heard of Sirius Black in passing. He maybe came up in conversation once or twice, but Remus had never met him. People said he was the spitting image of Orion, but seeing him now Remus couldn’t help but notice how unlike his father he looked. Orion looked cold and distant, even the few glimpses that Remus had gotten of the king were enough for him to notice how above it all Orion thought he was. 

“I would like to see you try” 

Sirius barked out a laugh, “You have to be the most moronic person I have ever met. Challenging the prince in such a fashion” 

Remus smirked. “Well to throw me in a dungeon you’d have to catch me first.” 

“You think I can’t catch what’s right in front of me?” 

Remus pretended to think about it. He knew the prince wouldn’t be able to catch him. He had years of practice from running away from Finn and Thomas. “Maybe if what was in front of you wasn’t me”, he made a pause to give the prince an exaggerated look. “Maybe then you could catch it.” Whatever Sirius was going to retort got interrupted when a man opened the door. He was all but screaming at Sirius and he hadn't even entered the room. 

“Sirius Orion Black, get your lazy arse back to training and stop bothering Minerva.” 

“You wound me Logan.” Sirius said, putting a hand over his heart dramatically and turning to face the newcomer. “You think I, Sirius Black, would dare skip training just to annoy Minnie.”

Remus wanted to laugh. This was nothing like what he had expected from Sirius Black, Prince of Slytherin. “I have known you for less than five minutes”, both men turned to look at him, “but even I can tell you’re skipping.” Sirius gasped. If Remus thought Thomas was dramatic, this guy was worse. 

Logan laughed at Sirius’s betrayed expression. “I like you”, he said, “what’s your name.” 

“I’m Remus, Remus Lupin,”, he shook Logan’s offered hand, “and you are.” 

“Logan Tremblay, a pleasure to meet you.”

“I’m sorry to interupt what is surely some form of traitorous meeting,”, Sirius didn’t sound at all sorry, “but we have to go.”

Remus sighed, letting go of Logan’s hand. “Oh, well, it was nice meeting you Logan.” 

“Likewise.” 

“Skipping training again, your highness?” A beaming smile took over Sirius’s face at the woman’s voice.

“Minnie!” 

Minerva stood in the entryway, not at all phased by the two knights that were standing in the room. Remus wondered if this happened often.

“Hello Remus”

“Wait”, Sirius said putting his hand up, “you two know each other”. 

Logan rolled his eyes, “yeah yeah, they know each other. Now let’s go”. He grabbed Sirius by the arm and dragged him out of the physician's quarters. Remus chuckled lightly, maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. 

“It’s good to see you”. Minerva greeted warmly. “It’s been a few years.” 

“Last time we talked I was, what” he stopped to think about it, “5 or 6 years old?” 

Minerva nodded before adding, “your mother said you wanted to learn medicine.”

“Yes. Thought I should learn, since my heale-”. He stopped himself, he couldn’t talk about his magic so casually anymore. Minerva seemed to understand what he meant anyway. Remus would have to be careful, he was grateful that he learned to control his magic when he was younger. He couldn’t afford accidental magic here. 

“Well there isn’t much for you to do today.” Minerva’s voice brought him out of his thoughts. “You can go explore the citadel if you want.”

Remus smiled at her. “That would be nice.” He spent some time in the room Minerva had prepared for him before going out. He thought about Sirius, he seemed like a good guy, but he was still raised by a man that couldn’t even bare the mention of magic. Maybe he thought people who chose to learn it would turn evil, but he didn’t seem like the type to kill someone without reason. 

Remus wouldn’t think about it too much. Even if he ended up befriending the prince, there was no chance Remus would share his secret until he knew for certain he could trust him. After he unpacked all of his belongings and wrote a letter for his mother he headed out of his room, crashing with someone right outside his door. He managed to regain his balance easily, the other person wasn’t so lucky. He heard the sound of metal and someone hitting the floor,  muttering a curse. “Oh gods, I am so sorry” Remus offered his hand to help the person up. It was a girl, with dark curls and tan skin. 

“That’s ok, I had to fix those anyway.”

“Still”, Remus bent down to pick up the armour the girl had dropped, “I’m sorry.”

“Thank you”, she said, accepting the chainmail he was handing her and putting it in the basket she had been carrying. “I’m June”

“Remus”.  He handed her a damaged gauntlet. 

“Are you new here, I don’t think I've seen you before.” 

“Is it that obvious?” Remus asked sheepishly. 

“Very”,  she said, trying to smother her giggles behind her palm. “Want me to show you around?” 

Remus nodded, “yeah that’d be great. Thank you.” 

“Great. We just have to drop these off at my house first.” 

The two of them walked in silence for a bit, passing through the citadel before heading towards the lower town. Remus was looking around trying to memorize where everything was but quickly becoming lost. June stopped in front of a small hut besides the forges and went in, probably to drop the damaged armour off. 

Remus felt only slightly dumb for not expecing June to live besides the forge. She had said she needed to fix the armour and now that he looked at her properly she didn’t look like all the other women in the lower town. She was muscular, definitely stronger than your average peasant woman. Her hands had burn marks and her fingers had thin scars, probably from accidentally cutting herself on blades. 

“Ready”, June's voice cut through his thoughts.  

“Yeah.” They began walking back towards the palace. “So, where are you taking me?”  

“The training grounds.”

 Remus just stared at her. “What?” He noticed she had something in her hand. 

“Well, you wanted a tour of the citadel, and I have to give this”, she showed him the dagger she was holding, “to sir Pascal, thought we would kill two birds with one stone and start the tour there.” 

“Can I see it”, he said pointing towards the blade. She handed it to him and he took it out of its sheath. It was a very detailed knife, it had a gladiolus flower engraved into the silver blade, and it had a small blue opal snake encrusted into the hilt. 

“Did you make this?”

She grinned at his surprised tone. “Why are  you so surprised? Didn’t think a girl could make something like that.” Remus didn’t miss the edge on her teasing tone. 

“Of course not. I don’t doubt your blacksmith abilities. It’s just that-” Remus was looking for the right words. 

“Just what?” 

“This is one of the most beautiful designs I have ever seen.”

“I can make one for you if you want”

Remus hummed in acknowledgment, handing the sheathed dagger back to her. “I’ll think about it.” When they reached the grounds they saw Sirius and Logan sparring. Logan seemed to be struggling to hold himself up as Sirius pushed down on The shorter man’s sword with his own. June whistled towards the crowd of armored knights and everyone but the two fighting men turned to look at her. A man started to walk towards her with a warm smile on his face. Remus guessed that was sir Pascal. 

“Here you go.” June said, handing him the dagger. “I hope Katie likes it. 

“I’m sure she will. Just like she loved all the other things you’ve made for her.” 

The knight turned to look at Remus and offered his hand. “Pascal Dumais, pleasure to meet you.” 

“Remus Lupin”, he said, shaking Pascal’s hand. 

“Have we met before?” The knight looked him over, as if trying to find an answer to his own question in Remus’s face. “You seem familiar.” 

“I don’t think we’ve met.” Remus managed to keep the panic from his tone, if someone here made a connection between him and his father it would end badly. “My father is a lord from Gryffindor, perhaps that’s where you see a resemblance.” 

Pascal looked at him for a second longer, then spoke. “That’s certainly a possibility.” 

“Well, I hate to be the one to break this meeting but I have to show this guy around”, June said, pointing at Remus and then at Pascal, “and you sir have to make sure Logan doesn’t get his ass beat for not knowing when to hold his tongue.”

The knight threw his head back, barking out a laugh. “The only people that could ever manage to make that boy behave are Celeste and his mother.” 

“You say that like your wife isn’t the scariest woman in this kingdom”, June said before grabbing Remus by the elbow and dragging him off to wherever was next. “Goodbye, see you later”, she said over her shoulder to a waving Pascal.  

“Where are we going to next?” 

June hummed in acknowledgement before answering, “I thought, since you’re probably going to be helping Minerva with handing out medicine, we should start with all the different castle wings.” She guided Remus through a series of elaborate corridors and showed him some of the different servant entrances, he didn’t think he would have to use those too often but if he ever needed to escape they would be useful for him to go unnoticed. She showed him the guest quarters, took him down to the kitchen, and finished in the royal chambers. 

“The big doors at the end of the hall are the King’s chambers, and these are Prince Sirius’s chambers”, she said pointing to the doors they were passing, “I would suggest you stay as far away from here as possible.” Even though her tone was even there was a teasing glint in her eyes. 

“Wow June”, said a voice from down the hall, “and here I thought we were on good terms.”

She smirked. “After what you did last week Black?”. She raised an eyebrow, “I don’t think I’m capable of such forgiveness.”

Remus looked at Sirius with a questioning look, the other man was pouting. “What did you do?” Sirius answered “nothing” at the same time the June said “he ruined Katie’s surprise.” 

Sirius threw his arms up dramatically, “I already apologized for that June.”

June sighed heavily. “Give me some time to plan my revenge and then maybe I’ll forgive you.” Remus watched Sirius’s eyes widen comically, his mouth opening a closing like he couldn't find what to say to that. He suspected that threats of a night in the dungeons wouldn’t mean much to the blacksmith. Remus tried not to laugh at the entire interaction, it was almost like Sirius forgot he was the prince. It reminded Remus so much of Finn it made him feel a little homesick. 

June grabbed Remus by the wrist, not giving Sirius the chance to respond to her threat, and guided him towards an opening at the end of the corridor. He heard Sirius run to catch up with them, his steps echoing through the hallway. “Where are you taking him?”, Sirius asked once he caught up to them.  

She turned to look at him, “Regulus’s chambers. It’s the only place left apart from the library.” Sirius hummed. The three of them lapsed into a comfortable silence. They started going up a narrow winding staircase that took them to the top of one of the towers. “Ok, so, that over there”, June said whilst pointing at the double doors at the end of the small hallway, “are Regulus’s chambers. And that”, she pointed at a single door half hidden behind a tapestry with the Black Family crest, “is either a servants entrance or a way to escape if there’s an attack.” Remus nodded, if he was honest he had already half forgotten what way was what. 

“Well, I have somewhere else to be right now, but I look forward to seeing you around”, Sirius said, extending his hand for Remus to shake.

 Remus took his hand, giving it a firm shake. “Sure thing, I certainly can’t wait to see what revenge June is planning.” He let go of Sirius’s hand, ignoring the pout on his face in favor of turning to June. “Remind me to never get on your bad side.” 

June laughed, shaking her head lightly. “Will do”. The three of them went down the stairs, Sirius going to his chambers to get out of his armour and sweaty clothes from training. Remus and June continued their tour around the castle for a while longer before she brought him back to the physician’s chambers. “It was nice meeting you Remus”, she gave him a small smile. “See you around?”

Remus smiled at her, “Definitely Good night June.” 

“Good night”

Hours later, when Remus was lying down in his bed staring up at the ceiling, he thought about how that morning had gone. The image of the axe falling, the old woman threatening the king, swearing she would avenge her son. The entire thing left him feeling uneasy, there was nothing he could do now, he knew that. 

He moved so he could see out the window, he tried to find some constellations in the night sky, giving his mind something to do other than worry about vengeful sorceresses. He mapped some of his favorite constellations, trying to imagine his brother doing the same back home, the thought calmed him a bit. The last thing he saw was Sirius’s soft glow, so much brighter than the other stars, before he drifted off into a dreamless sleep. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Three years later

Sirius had just called the end of practice when he saw someone hovering along the edges of the training grounds. A girl around his age was looking around with a frustrated expression on her face. He waved at Pascal and Logan, telling them he would see them at Sir Pascal’s house and walked over to the girl. 

“Hello”, her gaze focused on him, eyes flashing briefly. “Are you looking for someone?” 

She looked at him for a moment before answering. “Yes actually. Do you know where I can find Remus Lupin?” 

“No, sorry. I haven’t seen him all day.” Her face fell slightly, the irritated look returning to her expression. “I can help you look for him though. I’m Sirius” 

Something that looked like apprehension mixed with relief crossed her expression. “I’m Heather. And thank you, for the help.” He gave her a curt nod and they began walking away from the training grounds, heading to the castle.

“Why were you looking for him in the knights training area?” Sirius asked conversationally. 

“Oh, I thought maybe he’d be there. I need to give him a letter.” 

Sirius looked at her, confused. “Why would Remus be with the knights while they’re training?” It was her turn to look confused, it only lasted for a second, her face going back to a neutral expression. She didn’t say anything, shrugging lightly. 

They lapsed into awkward silence. Sirius took her to the physician's chambers first, hoping Remus would be there so that he could get out of the uncomfortable situation. They stopped in front of the door, Sirius said his goodbyes, telling her he had somewhere else to be. Heather smiled kindly at him, nodding. After he left she faced the door and pushed it open, sighing in relief when she saw Remus reading a book on the table. She walked towards him and sat down on the stool beside the table, dropping the stachel she had been carrying on the ground soundlessly. Remus jolted when she touched his arm, the feather-light touch raising goosebumps on his skin. She giggled at his startled expression. “Hello Remus.” 

“H-Heather?” Confusion and happiness flashed across his eyes in equal measure. He pulled her in for a hug, the angle a little awkward from their position. “What are you doing here?” 

“I’m just passing by”, she turned to look for something in her bag, “Finn asked me to bring this for you.” She handed Remus an envelope.

 He frowned at the golden seal. Finn never sealed his letters in gold, the color much too formal for a message between friends. He would usually use red wax, the color of Gryffindor’s banner. He opened the envelope, the golden wax crumbling and falling onto the table, and brought out a single page of writing. His eyes read over the words, the letter was unusually short and it had ink stains between words, almost like Finn had hesitated when writing them. His eyes widened mid-way through the first paragraph, a gasp escaping his lips. 

Heather watched him, making sure to mask her excitement with a carefully blank expression. When Remus finished reading he stared at the last sentence, his eyes reading it over and over again, a hundred different emotions flashing through his eyes before settling somewhere between surprise and indignation.  He turned around to look at her with a weird glint in his eye. 

“Since when is Finn getting married?”